Abstract: When forming an image, if there are not enough sheets remaining in a paper feed cassette to satisfy the image forming request, the image forming operation is not executed, and along with prompting the user to refill the paper, the paper feed cassette is pushed out towards an uninstalled state. The apparatus waits for a paper refill, and begins the image forming operation after that paper refill.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a paper conveying portion for conveying a paper; an image forming portion for forming a visible toner image on the paper being conveyed, with a toner in accordance with input image information; and a fixing unit for fusing and fixing an unfixed toner image formed on the paper to the paper by using a heat roller and a pressing roller, and is constructed such that the pressing roller is composed of a metal core that forms a core shaft of the pressing roller and an elastic part that covers an outer periphery of the metal core, and a heat capacity at a center portion of the pressing roller with respect to a direction perpendicular to a paper's direction of conveyance is smaller than heat capacities at both ends of the pressing roller.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes: an evacuation section for transporting and ejecting sheets; a sheet exit tray for stacking the ejected sheets; an arm supporting member; and a sheet presser arm including a supported end at one end, a free end at the other end which is capable of pressing the sheets stacked on the sheet exit tray directly or via a contact member attached to the free end, and a flexure portion having flexibility between the supported end and the free end. The supported end is attached to the arm supporting member. The arm can apply, by the flexibility of the flexure portion, a pressing force to the sheets stacked on the sheet exit tray and a repulsive force to each of the ejected sheets when a front end of the ejected sheet strikes against the arm.

Abstract: A shifter is equipped with a rack and a stopper. A transmission gear transmits power from an electric motor to the rack. A retention pin extends vertically downward from the transmission gear. When the shifter slides to an origin, the retention pin locks the stopper, which causes the electric motor to step out. On detecting the step-out of the electric motor, the position control device recognizes that the shifter has reached the origin (the reference position) and has been fixed at the position, thus setting the shifter position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a paper conveying portion for conveying a paper; an image forming portion for forming a visible toner image on the paper P being conveyed, with a toner in accordance with input image information; and a fixing unit for fusing and fixing the unfixed toner image formed on the paper to the paper by means of a heat roller and a pressing roller, and is constructed such that the pressing roller is composed of a metal core that forms the core shaft of the pressing roller and an elastic part that covers the outer periphery of the metal core, and the heat capacity at the center portion of the pressing roller with respect to the direction perpendicular to the paper's direction of conveyance is smaller than the heat capacities at both ends of the pressing roller.

Abstract: A roller turning force generator is connected to a driving gear which is mounted on a shaft. The shaft is connected to offset roller assemblies disposed in an offset mechanism via connecting gears. The offset roller assemblies rotatably supported inside the offset mechanism are turned by a driving force transmitted from the roller turning force generator to discharge individual sheets of a printing medium in a sheet transport direction. The offset mechanism is linked to an offsetting force generator so that the offset mechanism can be shifted along a direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction.

Abstract: When forming an image, if there are not enough sheets remaining in a paper feed cassette to satisfy the image forming request, the image forming operation is not executed, and along with prompting the user to refill the paper, the paper feed cassette is pushed out towards an uninstalled state. The apparatus waits for a paper refill, and begins the image forming operation after that paper refill.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes: an evacuation section for transporting and ejecting sheets; a sheet exit tray for stacking the ejected sheets; an arm supporting member; and a sheet presser arm including a supported end at one end, a free end at the other end which is capable of pressing the sheets stacked on the sheet exit tray directly or via a contact member attached to the free end, and a flexure portion having flexibility between the supported end and the free end. The supported end is attached to the arm supporting member. The arm can apply, by the flexibility of the flexure portion, a pressing force to the sheets stacked on the sheet exit tray and a repulsive force to each of the ejected sheets when a front end of the ejected sheet strikes against the arm.

Abstract: A shifter is equipped with a rack and a stopper. A transmission gear transmits power from an electric motor to the rack. A retention pin extends vertically downward from the transmission gear. When the shifter slides to an origin, the retention pin locks the stopper, which causes the electric motor to step out. On detecting the step-out of the electric motor, the position control device recognizes that the shifter has reached the origin (the reference position) and has been fixed at the position, thus setting the shifter position.

Abstract: A roller turning force generator is connected to a driving gear which is mounted on a shaft. The shaft is connected to offset roller assemblies disposed in an offset mechanism via connecting gears. The offset roller assemblies rotatably supported inside the offset mechanism are turned by a driving force transmitted from the roller turning force generator to discharge individual sheets of a printing medium in a sheet transport direction. The offset mechanism is linked to an offsetting force generator so that the offset mechanism can be shifted along a direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction.

Abstract: A filter change-over mechanism for use in a color image reading apparatus, in which filters in a plurality of colors are arranged to be changed over through utilization of a scanning function of an image reading unit, thus making it unnecessary to provide a driving source exclusive for the filter change-over or a complicated change-over mechanism, and accordingly, the image reading apparatus may be constructed to be compact in size and light in weight, and also presented at low cost owing to reduction of parts required.

Abstract: In a color image readout device having a plurality of light sources of different color emissions, controlled to light sequentially so that light reflected from a document irradiated by the light sources is fed to a CCD sensor to obtain a color separation signal, the plurality of light sources are arranged on a single light source support to form a single unit.

Abstract: A liquid developing system for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a copy paper includes a mesh plate development electrode disposed in a traveling path of the copy paper so that the image carrying surface of the copy paper confronts the mesh plate development electrode. A developer liquid supplying roller is provided for supplying the developer liquid to the mesh plate development electrode for forming a swelling developer liquid surface on the mesh plate development electrode. The image carrying surface of the copy paper makes contact with the thus formed swelling developer liquid surface, and the superfluous developer liquid is removed through the mesh plate development electrode.

Abstract: A liquid developer reservoir for use in a copying machine comprises at least two sections one of which is adapted to receive a photosensitive paper carrying an electrostatic latent image formed thereon and to be subjected to the developing operation. Developing liquid is supplied to one of the sections and led out from the other section, both sections being connected to each other to permit the developing liquid to flow from the former to the latter. A vertical partition separates one section of the reservoir from the other and has an aperture at the bottom thereof for providing the desired liquid flow between the sections.

Abstract: A multicolor electrophotography apparatus and method wherein a photoconductive copy sheet surface containing uniform electric charge is exposed to an original through light filter which enables one color to be recorded, is developed with colored toner to produce a copy of that color, and the sequence is repeated for each of the other colors, utilizing superimposing toner images on the same copy sheet. In a preferred embodiment a sheet carriage is adapted to hold the copy sheet at its upper edge portion and carry it only in a certain direction for example in a vertical direction whereas a developer bed on which a plurality of developer reservoirs, each containing different colored developer toners are mounted, is adapted to travel in the other direction for example in the horizontal direction.