Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing member; a pressure member for pressing against the fixing member so as to form a nip region between the pressure member and the fixing member; a pressure cancellation unit for pressing the pressure member against the fixing member and for cancelling the state in which the pressure member is pressed against the fixing member; a paper detachment member for detaching paper held between the fixing member and the pressure member in the nip region from the pressure member; and a separation mechanism for cleaning the paper detachment member by separating the paper detachment member from the pressure member in conjunction with a pressure cancellation operation of the pressure cancellation unit.

Abstract: A transport path switching unit is provided between transport rollers and pre-registration rollers, and control is performed to switch between a main transport path and an extended transport path of the transport path switching unit such that either the main transport path or the extended transport path is interposed as the part of the paper transport path between the transport rollers and the pre-registration rollers to vary a total length of the paper transport path.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet support, a restricting portion, a displacement section, and a link section. The restricting portion slides along a line passing through restricting points. The restricting portion restricts the position of the sheet when the restricting portion is positioned at each of the restricting points. The link section interlinks the restricting portion and the displacement section. The position of the displacement section is detected. The link section, which interlinks the restricting section and the displacement section, is configured to change a ratio of a distance that the displacement section travels as the restricting section travels a fixed distance, wherein the ratio of the distance between those restricting points which define a relatively large spacing therebetween becomes longer than the ratio of the distance between those restricting points which define a relatively small spacing therebetween.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the present invention includes a fixing rotation member, a rotation drive portion that rotates the fixing rotation member, a cleaning web sheet that cleans a circumferential surface of the fixing rotation member, a cleaning web sheet roller that takes up or feeds out the cleaning web sheet, a swing cam rotationally driven by the rotation drive portion, a rotation transmission portion that transmits a rotation drive force to the cleaning web sheet roller, a one way clutch provided on an input shaft of the rotation transmission portion, and a swing lever connected to the one way clutch and biased so as to be brought into slide contact with the swing cam.

Abstract: To provide a fusing unit including a fusing roller for fixing an unfixed toner image to a sheet and a fusing roller cleaning unit including a web sheet delivering roller for supplying a web sheet and a winding roller for taking up the web sheet for cleaning the fusing roller, the fusing roller cleaning unit includes a web detecting terminal for detecting the presence of the web sheet and a tension roller for guiding the web sheet, on the upstream side of a pressure roller with respect to the web sheet's direction of conveyance and first and second guide rollers, the second guide roller being disposed upstream of the web detecting terminal.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided in which a rotation member and a roller are caused to rotate pressing against each other, a recording paper is sandwiched and transported in a nip region between the rotation member and the roller, a leading edge of a peeling plate is positioned with respect to a peripheral surface of the rotation member, and the recording paper is separated from the rotation member by the peeling plate. In this fixing device, a surface of the peeling plate faces a transport route of the recording paper. Furthermore, in this fixing device, a contact member is provided that contacts a rear surface of the peeling plate displaced in a direction in which the leading edge of the peeling plate approaches the peripheral surface of the rotation member and prohibits displacement of the peeling plate after contact of the peeling plate to the contact member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes first and second sheet sensors provided in order from upstream to downstream sides in feeding direction on a paper feed path, sheet conveyor roller sets arranged along the path, and a roller controller individually controlling groups of rollers on the upstream and downstream sides of the first sheet sensor, in response to a change in values of output signals from first and second sheet sensors. The roller controller includes an overlapped feeding determining device outputting a determination signal assuming a first value when overlapped feeding occurs and a second value otherwise, in response to the change in values of the output signals from the sensors, an overlapped feeding eliminating device eliminating overlapped feeding by controlling the roller controller upon receiving the determination signal of the first value, and a conveyor roller stopping device stopping the sheet conveyor rollers if the overlapped feeding eliminating process should fail.

Abstract: A feeding device according to the present invention includes a box, paper holders, and a shifting mechanism. The box is open at its top. The paper holders are open at their tops and positioned in the box. Each of the paper holders holds a pile of sheets of paper in it. The shifting mechanism so shifts at least one of the paper holders that the top sheet in one of the paper holders is positioned in a single feed position in the box according to selection data output from the apparatus with which the feeding device is used.

Abstract: In one embodiment, in a fixing apparatus that is provided with a plurality of rollers including a fixing roller, and an endless fixing belt that is wound around the plurality of rollers, a regulation belt for regulating movement of the fixing belt in the axial direction is wound around at least one of both sides in the axial direction of at least one roller (for example, two rollers) among the plurality of rollers.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing member; a pressure member for pressing against the fixing member so as to form a nip region between the pressure member and the fixing member; a pressure cancellation unit for pressing the pressure member against the fixing member and for cancelling the state in which the pressure member is pressed against the fixing member; a paper detachment member for detaching paper held between the fixing member and the pressure member in the nip region from the pressure member; and a separation mechanism for cleaning the paper detachment member by separating the paper detachment member from the pressure member in conjunction with a pressure cancellation operation of the pressure cancellation unit.

Abstract: A shifting mechanism includes a guide plate, a bearing, a rotating shaft, a delivery roller, and a bearing unit. The shifting mechanism delivers a sheet of paper along a delivery passage and offsets the sheet horizontally and perpendicularly to the passage while delivering it. The guide plate has an opening forming part of the delivery passage and an end hole formed through the front end of the plate horizontally and perpendicularly to the passage. The rotating shaft extends through the end hole. The delivery roller is fixed to the rotating shaft. The sheet passes through the nip between the delivery roller and the guide plate. The bearing unit extends movably through the end hole and includes a sleeve, which supports the rotating shaft horizontally and perpendicularly to the delivery passage. The bearing unit rotates the rotating shaft.

Abstract: In a sheet transport apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, coiled springs 82 are fitted in and supported by recess portions 81b at a bottom face 81a of a support frame 81 and recess portions 73c at an upper face 73b of an inner guide 73. In other words, most of the portions of the coiled spring 82 are enclosed inside the recess portions 81b of the support frame 81 and the recess portions 73c of the inner guide 73, and covered and hidden by side walls 81f of the recess portions 81b and side walls 73d of the recess portions 73c.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet support, a restricting portion, a displacement section, and a link section. The restricting portion slides along a line passing through restricting points. The restricting portion restricts the position of the sheet when the restricting portion is positioned at each of the restricting points. The link section interlinks the restricting portion and the displacement section. The position of the displacement section is detected. The link section, which interlinks the restricting section and the displacement section, is configured to change a ratio of a distance that the displacement section travels as the restricting section travels a fixed distance, wherein the ratio of the distance between those restricting points which define a relatively large spacing therebetween becomes longer than the ratio of the distance between those restricting points which define a relatively small spacing therebetween.

Abstract: A paper feeder comprises an acquiring device, a driving roller, driven rollers, a driven roller supporter, a driver, and a controller. The acquiring device acquires thickness information on a sheet of paper. The driving roller rotates by being supplied with torque. The driven rollers rotate with the driving roller when in compressive contact with the driving roller. The driven roller supporter so supports the driven rollers that each of them can rotate under a different rotational load. The driver changes the position of the driven roller supporter relative to the driving roller. The controller selects one of the driven rollers on the basis of the thickness information and so activates the driver as to bring the selected roller into compressive contact with the driving roller.

Abstract: A shifting mechanism includes a guide plate, a bearing, a rotating shaft, a delivery roller, and a bearing unit. The shifting mechanism delivers a sheet of paper along a delivery passage and offsets the sheet horizontally and perpendicularly to the passage while delivering it. The guide plate has an opening forming part of the delivery passage and an end hole formed through the front end of the plate horizontally and perpendicularly to the passage. The rotating shaft extends through the end hole. The delivery roller is fixed to the rotating shaft. The sheet passes through the nip between the delivery roller and the guide plate. The bearing unit extends movably through the end hole and includes a sleeve, which supports the rotating shaft horizontally and perpendicularly to the delivery passage. The bearing unit rotates the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes first and second sheet sensors provided in order from upstream to downstream sides in feeding direction on a paper feed path, sheet conveyor roller sets arranged along the path, and a roller controller individually controlling groups of rollers on the upstream and downstream sides of the first sheet sensor, in response to a change in values of output signals from first and second sheet sensors. The roller controller includes an overlapped feeding determining device outputting a determination signal assuming a first value when overlapped feeding occurs and a second value otherwise, in response to the change in values of the output signals from the sensors, an overlapped feeding eliminating device eliminating overlapped feeding by controlling the roller controller upon receiving the determination signal of the first value, and a conveyor roller stopping device stopping the sheet conveyor rollers if the overlapped feeding eliminating process should fail.

Abstract: To provide a fusing unit including a fusing roller for fixing an unfixed toner image to a sheet and a fusing roller cleaning unit including a web sheet delivering roller for supplying a web sheet and a winding roller for taking up the web sheet for cleaning the fusing roller, the fusing roller cleaning unit includes a web detecting terminal for detecting the presence of the web sheet and a tension roller for guiding the web sheet, on the upstream side of a pressure roller with respect to the web sheet's direction of conveyance and first and second guide rollers, the second guide roller being disposed upstream of the web detecting terminal.

Abstract: In the present glossy paper, an opposite surface of a glossed and smooth image formation surface is rough-surfaced. Therefore, the glossy paper do not adhere together even under the high-temperature and high-humidity environment. In fact, the present invention provides glossy paper which can advantageously achieve a continuous paper feeding in the image forming apparatus regardless of the use environment conditions.

Abstract: A manual sheet feeding mechanism adapted for use in a sheet processing apparatus includes a manual feeding tray and a guiding member. The manual feeding tray is adapted to be mounted on a side wall of the apparatus so as to be pivotable about an axis between an open position and a closed position. The manual feeding tray has a placement surface for placing a sheet to be manually fed into the apparatus. The guiding member is adapted to position a sheet placed on the placement surface and is provided so as to be movable on the placement surface. The manual sheet feeding mechanism also includes a moving member that is adapted, when the manual feeding tray is pivoted toward the closed position, to move the guiding member on the placement surface.

Abstract: A line sensor that detects the edge position of a recording paper is provided on the upstream side of a transfer point where an image formed on a first photosensitive drum is transferred to the recording paper. When performing borderless image formation, the size of the image on the first photosensitive drum to be transferred to the midstream of the recording paper after detection of its edge position is changed to a smaller size based on the detection results by the line sensor, and subsequent image formation to the recording paper continues to be performed according to this image on the photosensitive drum whose size has been changed.