Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a paper loading base on which manual-feed paper is loaded, a manual-feed paper conveying unit, and a dustproof cover which covers the paper loading base being in the overhang state. The paper loading base has a lower end rotatably supported on one outer surface portion of the device main body, and is opened from an upper end thereof and disposed at a predetermined oblique angle or in a horizontal overhang state such that an overhang side becomes an upper side in an oblique direction. The manual-feed paper conveying unit is conveys the manual-feed paper on the paper loading base onto a paper conveyance path one by one. The dustproof cover includes a base which engages with the paper loading base, and an opening-and-closing cover which is rotatably connected to the base and is opened upwardly on the overhang side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet container, an image forming part to form an image, a sheet feeding rotary body to feed the recording medium, a sheet separating rotary body to contact the sheet feeding rotary body and rotate with the sheet feeding rotary body with a sheet separation nip region formed therebetween, a rotation adjusting unit to adjust rotation of the sheet separating rotary body, a sheet containing unit to contain the recording media therein, a sheet separating body storing unit disposed at one end of the sheet containing unit to store the sheet separating body therein, and a load resistance applying mechanism to apply a rotational load resistance different from a contact force generated by contacting of the sheet separating rotary body with the sheet feeding rotary body, to the sheet feeding rotary body with no rotation driving force applied thereto.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet container detachably attachable to the apparatus body and accommodating recording media therein, an image forming part to form an image on each of the recording media, a sheet separating part to separate the recording media one by one, feed the recording medium toward the image forming part, and include a sheet feeding body and a sheet separating body to rotate in contact with the sheet feeding body and form a sheet separation nip region with the sheet feeding body, a sheet containing unit to contain the recording media therein, and a sheet separating body storing unit disposed at one end of the sheet containing unit to store the sheet separating body therein. The sheet container being pulled out from the apparatus body by moving from the sheet containing unit to the sheet separating body storing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet container, an image forming part to form an image, a sheet feeding rotary body to feed the recording medium, a sheet separating rotary body to contact the sheet feeding rotary body and rotate with the sheet feeding rotary body with a sheet separation nip region formed therebetween, a rotation adjusting unit to adjust rotation of the sheet separating rotary body, a sheet containing unit to contain the recording media therein, a sheet separating body storing unit disposed at one end of the sheet containing unit to store the sheet separating body therein, and a load resistance applying mechanism to apply a rotational load resistance different from a contact force generated by contacting of the sheet separating rotary body with the sheet feeding rotary body, to the sheet feeding rotary body with no rotation driving force applied thereto.

Abstract: In a fastener chain, at least some warps constituting a woven fastener tape are provided with a flame retardant phosphorus-copolymerized polyester fiber and wefts constituting the same fastener tape are provided with a synthetic fiber that is not phosphorus-copolymerized and that has a higher degree of tensile strength than the flame retardant polyester fiber. With this configuration, superior flame retardancy can be stably obtained and there is no variance in the flame retardancy of the fastener chains. In the fastener chain, the heat contraction of the warp is used to improve the chain horizontal pull force, and by increasing the frictional resistance between the warp and the weft, shifting of the weave pattern of the fastener tape can be prevented. Further, the fastener chain can be provided at a low cost because of the small amount of flame retardant polyester fiber used.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form an image on a recording medium, an apparatus body, a sheet container detachably attachable to the apparatus body and accommodating the recording medium, a sheet conveying path through which the recording medium is conveyed toward the image forming part, a sheet reentry path disposed above the sheet container and through which the recording medium having the image thereon is conveyed again to the sheet conveying path, a swing unit to swingably move a bottom plate of the sheet reentry path between a first position and a second position, a lock releasing unit to lock and release the bottom plate with respect to the first position of the swing unit, and a release operating unit to cause the lock releasing unit to release the bottom plate from the first position of the swing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet container accommodating a recording medium therein, a sheet separating feeder including a sheet feeding body and a sheet separating body, an image forming part, and a bend applier. The sheet feeding body feeds the recording medium along with a surface movement thereof while the recording medium contacting the surface thereof. The sheet separating body forms a sheet separation nip region with the sheet feeding body and sandwiches the recording medium in the sheet separation nip region. The sheet separating feeder separates and feeds the recording medium contacting the sheet feeding body. The image forming part forms an image on the recording medium. The bend applier having a leading end of an elastic material contacts and bends the recording medium before the sheet separation nip region and generates a wrinkle extending on the recording medium in a sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form an image on a recording medium, an apparatus body, a sheet container detachably attachable to the apparatus body and accommodating the recording medium, a sheet conveying path through which the recording medium is conveyed toward the image forming part, a sheet reentry path disposed above the sheet container and through which the recording medium having the image thereon is conveyed again to the sheet conveying path, a swing unit to swingably move a bottom plate of the sheet reentry path between a first position and a second position, a lock releasing unit to lock and release the bottom plate with respect to the first position of the swing unit, and a release operating unit to cause the lock releasing unit to release the bottom plate from the first position of the swing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet container, an image forming part to form an image, a sheet feeding rotary body to feed the recording medium, a sheet separating rotary body to contact the sheet feeding rotary body and rotate with the sheet feeding rotary body with a sheet separation nip region formed therebetween, a rotation adjusting unit to adjust rotation of the sheet separating rotary body, a sheet containing unit to contain the recording media therein, a sheet separating body storing unit disposed at one end of the sheet containing unit to store the sheet separating body therein, and a load resistance applying mechanism to apply a rotational load resistance different from a contact force generated by contacting of the sheet separating rotary body with the sheet feeding rotary body, to the sheet feeding rotary body with no rotation driving force applied thereto.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet container detachably attachable to the apparatus body and accommodating recording media therein, an image forming part to form an image on each of the recording media, a sheet separating part to separate the recording media one by one, feed the recording medium toward the image forming part, and include a sheet feeding body and a sheet separating body to rotate in contact with the sheet feeding body and form a sheet separation nip region with the sheet feeding body, a sheet containing unit to contain the recording media therein, and a sheet separating body storing unit disposed at one end of the sheet containing unit to store the sheet separating body therein. The sheet container being pulled out from the apparatus body by moving from the sheet containing unit to the sheet separating body storing unit.

Abstract: A sheet separation/conveyance device that is included in an image forming apparatus includes an attraction/separation unit including an endless belt on which a region of attraction and a region of no attraction that divides the region of attraction are aligned in a sheet conveying direction, the endless belt configured to hold an uppermost sheet placed on top of a sheet stack contained in an image forming apparatus by using electrostatic attraction, a charger configured to charge a surface of the endless belt, the charger including an electrode configured to contact the surface of the endless belt due to a supply of a voltage and a detector configured to detect a charged condition on the surface of the endless belt based on a detection result obtained when the electrode contacts the endless belt, and a sheet conveying unit configured to convey the uppermost sheet held by the electrostatic attraction.

Abstract: A sheet separation/conveyance device that is included in an image forming apparatus includes an attraction/separation unit including an endless belt on which a region of attraction and a region of no attraction that divides the region of attraction are aligned in a sheet conveying direction, the endless belt configured to hold an uppermost sheet placed on top of a sheet stack contained in an image forming apparatus by using electrostatic attraction, a charger configured to charge a surface of the endless belt, the charger including an electrode configured to contact the surface of the endless belt due to a supply of a voltage and a detector configured to detect a charged condition on the surface of the endless belt based on a detection result obtained when the electrode contacts the endless belt, and a sheet conveying unit configured to convey the uppermost sheet held by the electrostatic attraction.

Abstract: In a fastener chain, at least some warps constituting a woven fastener tape are provided with a flame retardant phosphorus-copolymerized polyester fiber fiber and wefts constituting the same fastener tape are provided with a synthetic fiber that is not phosphorus-copolymerized and that has a higher degree of tensile strength than the flame retardant polyester fiber. With this configuration, superior flame retardancy can be stably obtained and there is no variance in the flame retardancy of the fastener chains. In the fastener chain, the heat contraction of the warp is used to improve the chain horizontal pull force, and by increasing the frictional resistance between the warp and the weft, shifting of the weave pattern of the fastener tape can be prevented. Further, the fastener chain can be provided at a low cost because of the small amount of flame retardant polyester fiber used.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated screw driver having a pneumatically operated rotor rotatably supported in an outer frame. The rotor is only rotatable about its axis. A moving unit is slidably disposed within the rotor. The moving unit has an upper piston and is axially movable upon application of pneumatic pressure to the upper piston. The moving unit is also rotatable about its axis because of spline connection with the rotor. A valve is disposed for selectively applying the pneumatic pressure to the piston and to the rotor. Upon application of the pneumatic pressure, the moving unit is moved downwardly, and the pneumatic pressure is then introduced into the rotor for rotating the same. The rotation of the rotor is transmitted to the moving unit. The valve closes a fluid passage directing to the piston and to the rotor when the moving unit has the lowermost position.