Abstract: A pair of side plate portions of a duct unit are formed to continue from an upstream plate portion to a downstream plate portion. A partition wall portion partitions a space between the pair of side plate portions into branch flow paths and the other area. A plurality of flow-out openings formed in the downstream plate portion are smaller, in area and width in a first direction, than flow-in openings formed in the upstream plate portion. The pair of side plate portions are formed to extend along edges of the flow-in openings and edges of the flow-out openings. The edges of each of the flow-in openings and the flow-out openings are opposite to each other in the first direction. An interval between the pair of side plate portions in the first direction becomes gradually narrower from upstream to downstream.

Abstract: A pair of side plate portions of a duct unit are formed to continue from an upstream plate portion to a downstream plate portion. A partition wall portion partitions a space between the pair of side plate portions into branch flow paths and the other area. A plurality of flow-out openings formed in the downstream plate portion are smaller, in area and width in a first direction, than flow-in openings formed in the upstream plate portion. The pair of side plate portions are formed to extend along edges of the flow-in openings and edges of the flow-out openings. The edges of each of the flow-in openings and the flow-out openings are opposite to each other in the first direction. An interval between the pair of side plate portions in the first direction becomes gradually narrower from the upstream plate portion toward the downstream plate portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating body, a pressuring body, a lateral plate supporting the heating body or the pressuring body, a first supporting body supporting the heating or pressuring body, a second supporting body including a roller, a tensile spring connected between the first and second supporting bodies, an eccentric cam and a driving part. The first and the second supporting body are swingable to the lateral plate. The eccentric cam is supported between the first and second supporting bodies in the lateral plate, and is rotated while contacting with the roller to change the second supporting body, thereby changing a nip pressure of the first and second supporting bodies to a first pressure or a second pressure lower than the first pressure. In the eccentric cam, between first and second portions making the first and second pressures, at least one depression receiving insertion of the roller is formed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating body, a pressuring body, a lateral plate supporting the heating body or the pressuring body, a first supporting body supporting the heating or pressuring body, a second supporting body including a roller, a tensile spring connected between the first and second supporting bodies, an eccentric cam and a driving part. The first and the second supporting body are swingable to the lateral plate. The eccentric cam is supported between the first and second supporting bodies in the lateral plate, and is rotated while contacting with the roller to change the second supporting body, thereby changing a nip pressure of the first and second supporting bodies to a first pressure or a second pressure lower than the first pressure. In the eccentric cam, between first and second portions making the first and second pressures, at least one depression receiving insertion of the roller is formed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressuring member, a fixing device main body, a guide member and a detecting mechanism. The guide member is rotatable between a closing position where the guide member covers a sheet conveying path and an opening position where the guide member exposes the sheet conveying path. The detecting mechanism includes a sensor and an actuator. The sensor includes a light emitting part and a light receiving part. The actuator is swingable between a non-blocking position where the actuator does not block a light and a blocking position where the actuator blocks the light. When the actuator rotates integrally with the guide member according to a rotation of the guide member between the closing position and the opening position, the actuator passes between the light emitting part and the light receiving part.

Abstract: A connector attaching/detaching structure detachably holds a connector in a housing. The connector attaching/detaching structure includes a first cable, a second cable, a terminal, a connector, and a housing. The terminal is provided on an end of the first cable. The connector is provided on an end of the second cable. The connector can establish an electrical connection with the terminal by inserting the terminal into the connector. The housing is provided with a connector holding portion that detachably holds the connector. A wall section, which forms an outer part of the connector holding portion, has a cutout wide enough to permit the first cable to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressuring member, a fixing device main body, a guide member and a detecting mechanism. The guide member is rotatable between a closing position where the guide member covers a sheet conveying path and an opening position where the guide member exposes the sheet conveying path. The detecting mechanism includes a sensor and an actuator. The sensor includes a light emitting part and a light receiving part. The actuator is swingable between a non-blocking position where the actuator does not block a light and a blocking position where the actuator blocks the light. When the actuator rotates integrally with the guide member according to a rotation of the guide member between the closing position and the opening position, the actuator passes between the light emitting part and the light receiving part.

Abstract: A connector attaching/detaching structure detachably holds a connector in a housing. The connector attaching/detaching structure includes a first cable, a second cable, a terminal, a connector, and a housing. The terminal is provided on an end of the first cable. The connector is provided on an end of the second cable. The connector can establish an electrical connection with the terminal by inserting the terminal into the connector. The housing is provided with a connector holding portion that detachably holds the connector. A wall section, which forms an outer part of the connector holding portion, has a cutout wide enough to permit the first cable to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A unit retraction device has a hook member which engages with an engaged portion provided on a unit, and a retraction force generating mechanism which exerts a retraction force on the unit. The retraction force generating mechanism includes a first rotary member which is rotatably disposed on a first rotation pivot and to a rotating end part of which the hook member is coupled, a biasing member of which one end is hooked to the first rotary member and which biases the first rotary member in such a direction that the hook member retracts the unit into the apparatus body, and a second rotary member to which another end of the biasing member is hooked and which is rotatably disposed on a second rotation pivot. The second rotary member rotates in the same direction as the first rotary member as the latter is rotated by the biasing member.

Abstract: A sheet discharge device includes a sheet discharge path, a discharge portion for discharging the sheet, and a pressing member. The pressing member is shiftable between a hanging posture, in which the pressing member hangs from an axis of pivotal movement thereof above the discharge path in such a manner as to block the discharge path, and a retracted posture, in which the pressing member is pivotally moved about the axis of pivotal movement in the sheet discharge direction for opening the discharge path. The pressing member has a side portion protruding into the discharge path in the hanging posture thereof, and a bottom portion continuing to a lower end of the side portion and extending toward downstream in the sheet discharge direction. The bottom portion includes an inclined surface inclined upwardly toward a middle part of the sheet in the sheet width direction in the hanging posture.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member and a separating member. The fixing member is provided with a sheet passing region and a non-sheet passing region. The separating member has a separating plate and a restricting piece. The restricting piece is provided with a curving surface on a region including the contacting portion with the non-sheet passing region. The curving surface has a first curving area and a second curving area. The first curving area is provided on a downstream side from the contacting portion in a rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area is provided on an upstream side from the contacting portion in the rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area has a radius of curvature larger than that of the first curving area.

Abstract: A unit retraction device has a hook member which engages with an engaged portion provided on a unit, and a retraction force generating mechanism which exerts a retraction force on the unit. The retraction force generating mechanism includes a first rotary member which is rotatably disposed on a first rotation pivot and to a rotating end part of which the hook member is coupled, a biasing member of which one end is hooked to the first rotary member and which biases the first rotary member in such a direction that the hook member retracts the unit into the apparatus body, and a second rotary member to which another end of the biasing member is hooked and which is rotatably disposed on a second rotation pivot. The second rotary member rotates in the same direction as the first rotary member as the latter is rotated by the biasing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member and a separating member. The fixing member is provided with a sheet passing region and a non-sheet passing region. The separating member has a separating plate and a restricting piece. The restricting piece is provided with a curving surface on a region including the contacting portion with the non-sheet passing region. The curving surface has a first curving area and a second curving area. The first curving area is provided on a downstream side from the contacting portion in a rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area is provided on an upstream side from the contacting portion in the rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area has a radius of curvature larger than that of the first curving area.

Abstract: A sheet discharge device includes a sheet discharge path, a discharge portion for discharging the sheet, and a pressing member. The pressing member is shiftable between a hanging posture, in which the pressing member hangs from an axis of pivotal movement thereof above the discharge path in such a manner as to block the discharge path, and a retracted posture, in which the pressing member is pivotally moved about the axis of pivotal movement in the sheet discharge direction for opening the discharge path. The pressing member has a side portion protruding into the discharge path in the hanging posture thereof, and a bottom portion continuing to a lower end of the side portion and extending toward downstream in the sheet discharge direction. The bottom portion includes an inclined surface inclined upwardly toward a middle part of the sheet in the sheet width direction in the hanging posture.

Abstract: A toner transferring mechanism is provided with: an agitating and transferring member disposed in a housing accommodating toner, and having a blade portion thereof formed in a spiral shape on a circumferential portion of a rotatable shaft portion; and a plurality of scraping members making contact with the agitating and transferring member, and then scraping toner adhering to the agitating and transferring member, the scraping members being arranged in an axial direction of the agitating and transferring member, wherein the scraping members are arranged so that the scraping members adjacent to each other form an interval which is approximate to a spiral pitch of the blade portion of the agitating and transferring member.

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: A receiving member for receiving the leading end of sheet on a sheet placing table is disposed movably along the upper surface of the sheet placing table within a specified range including a first position located at the other end of the sheet placing table and distanced from a carry-in opening at least by the length of the sheet, and an operation control unit causes the receiving member to move to a second position where the trailing end of the sheet received by the receiving member slips under the carry-in opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section, provided in an apparatus body, for forming an image on a sheet; a sheet transport path for transporting the sheet to the image forming section; a closing member, openably and closably mounted to the apparatus body, for exposing the sheet transport path in an opened state thereof; a first guide unit and a second guide unit, disposed along the sheet transport path, for guiding the sheet, the first and the second guide units being operable to shift between a proximate position where the first and the second guide units are close to each other, and an away position where the first and the second guide units are away from each other; and a position shifting mechanism for shifting the position of the second guide unit in association with a shifting operation of the first guide unit.

Abstract: A sheet bending apparatus and a sheet postprocessing apparatus are provided for improved alignment of recording sheets during center-folding. A center-folding unit mounted in a sheet postprocessing apparatus performs a center-folding processing to a stack of recording sheets aligned on their sides and placed in a sheet holding member. Side aligning is performed near a central portion in a sheet conveyance direction of the sheet holding member. The center-folding unit includes: two upper end aligning members positioned upstream in the sheet conveyance direction on the sheet holding member and movable equally in opposite width directions of the sheet holding member; and a pair of lower side end aligning members positioned on downstream in the sheet conveyance direction on the sheet holding member and are movable equally in opposite width directions of the sheet holding member and independently from the upper end aligning members.

Abstract: A toner transferring mechanism is provided with: an agitating and transferring member disposed in a housing accommodating toner, and having a blade portion thereof formed in a spiral shape on a circumferential portion of a rotatable shaft portion; and a plurality of scraping members making contact with the agitating and transferring member, and then scraping toner adhering to the agitating and transferring member, the scraping members being arranged in an axial direction of the agitating and transferring member, wherein the scraping members are arranged so that the scraping members adjacent to each other form an interval which is approximate to a spiral pitch of the blade portion of the agitating and transferring member.