Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a horizontal carrying mechanism that collects a waste developer in the horizontal direction, relay carrying mechanisms that carry the waste developer collected by the horizontal carrying mechanism to a desired position, a vertical carrying mechanism that carries the waste developer, which is carried by the relay carrying mechanisms, in the vertical upward direction, and a relay carrying mechanism that feeds the waste developer carried by the vertical carrying mechanism into a storage case. A waste developer flow rate of a waste-developer carrying mechanism at a post stage is equal to or larger than a waste developer flow rate of a waste-developer carrying mechanism at a pre-stage thereof.

Abstract: There is provided, in a secondary transfer section including a mechanism for bringing a transfer roller into contact with an image carrier and separating it from the image carrier, a transfer roller contact and separation drive unit that does not increase the number of parts in a section that constituting a mechanism for operating contact and separation operation and does not use a device such as an electromagnetic clutch that requires electrical control.

Abstract: In a key-input voice assistant apparatus of the present invention, a mode switching key is used to switch the operation mode between a normal mode in which a function assigned to a key is executed when key input is detected and a voice guide mode in which a voice is used for a guide. The apparatus determines whether or not key information indicative of the detection of the key is stored when it detects the key input in the voice guide mode, stores the key information and outputs voice information assigned to the key if it concludes that the key information is not stored, and executes the function assigned to the key if it concludes that the key information is stored.

Abstract: A carrying apparatus comprises a carrying device which has a first roller supported by a main unit through a first support shaft, and a second roller supported by the open/close cover through a second support shaft, and which holds and carries a material to be carried by the first and second rollers, and a lock device which is fixed to the second support shaft and is removably engaged with the first support shaft, for locking the open/close cover to the main unit and determining the relative position of the first and second rollers.

Abstract: A carrying apparatus comprises a carrying device which has a first roller supported by a main unit through a first support shaft, and a second roller supported by the open/close cover through a second support shaft, and which holds and carries a material to be carried by the first and second rollers, and a lock device which is fixed to the second support shaft and is removably engaged with the first support shaft, for locking the open/close cover to the main unit and determining the relative position of the first and second rollers.

Abstract: In a key-input voice assistant apparatus of the present invention, a mode switching key is used to switch the operation mode between a normal mode in which a function assigned to a key is executed when key input is detected and a voice guide mode in which a voice is used for a guide. The apparatus determines whether or not key information indicative of the detection of the key is stored when it detects the key input in the voice guide mode, stores the key information and outputs voice information assigned to the key if it concludes that the key information is not stored, and executes the function assigned to the key if it concludes that the key information is stored.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer includes a rotary drum for holding a print medium, a print head for printing an image by ejecting ink onto the print medium held on the rotary drum, an ink receiving unit facing the print head at a non-printing time to receive ink ejected from the print head, and an ink collecting section for collecting ink from the ink receiving unit. Particularly, the ink collecting section includes a blade member for wiping out ink which is remaining on the ink receiving unit without being collected after ejection of ink.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer with an ink nozzle purging device includes a valve equipped in a portion of an ink supply pipe extending from a pump to a printing head unit, and an ink urging unit which has a chamber equipped in a portion of the pipe between the valve and the pump, and further has an elastic member disposed in the chamber. The member accumulates an elastic force by a pressure of the ink entering into the chamber while the pump is operated with the valve being closed, and then urges the ink toward the printing head unit when the valve is opened to release the elastic force accumulated in the elastic member.