Abstract: A printing apparatus and method can maintain an appropriate spacing between a print head and the overall printing surface of printing media of a wide range of thicknesses, with a platen mechanism that allows the printing medium to move in parallel displacement, namely both in a direction downstream along the advance of the printing medium and in a direction away from the print head.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus comprising a sheet supply device which supplies a sheet, a guide member which guides the sheet delivered by the sheet supplying device, a hold down member which presses the sheet against the guide member, a release device which releases the pressure of the hold down member, and a control device which controls the sheet supply device in connection with pressure releasing operation of the release device.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a mounting portion on which an ink jet cartridge is detachably mounted, the cartridge having a connector and a recording head portion for discharging ink to perform image recording. The mounting portion has a body connector associated therewith for electrically connecting the connector of the cartridge to the apparatus. A recording head positioner positions the recording head portion of the cartridge on the mounting portion. An operation device displaces the cartridge and the body connector relative to each other to connect the body connector to the cartridge connector.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a device for generating an electrostatic attraction force for attracting a sheet member to a surface of a transport belt disposed close to another surface of the transport belt opposite to the surface that contacts the sheet member. The apparatus is arranged to reduce a drive load on the transport belt caused by the electrostatic attraction force. To achieve this effect, at least one of a surface of the electrostatic attraction force generating device contacting the transport belt and a surface of the transport belt contacting the electrostatic attraction force generating device is roughened. Alternatively, an electrostatic attraction force generated at at least one particular portion of the transport belt by the electrostatic attraction force generating device is smaller than an electrostatic attraction force generated at another portion of the transport belt.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet accommodating unit for accommodating a plurality of sheets, a sheet feeding unit for feeding sheets from the sheet accommodating unit, separation pawls for individually separating the sheets fed from the sheet feeding unit, a manual feeding port for manually feeding a sheet between the sheet accommodating unit and the sheet feeding unit, and a manually-fed-sheet guiding unit disposed between the sheet accommodating unit and the sheet feeding unit for guiding the sheet manually fed from the manual feeding port. The manually-fed-sheet guiding unit is displaceable an amount sufficient to allow the formation of a loop in a sheet during the separation by the separation pawls.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first assembly, a second assembly movable relative to the first assembly to open and close the image forming apparatus, a photosensor provided in the first assembly, illuminating source provided in the second assembly, for illuminating an original to be copied, and light transmitting element for transmitting light emitted from the illuminating source in the first assembly to the photosensor in the second assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus with a supply roller for supplying a sheet, a sheet directing path for directing the sheet supplied by the supply roller to a recording portion, a sheet ejection path for directing the sheet recorded at the recording portion to an ejection outlet, a guide for guiding a sheet to be introduced from the ejection outlet, and sheet feeding rollers and detectors for directing the introduced sheet to the recording portion through the sheet ejection path and thereafter for returning the sheet to the ejection outlet.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a mounting portion on which an ink jet cartridge is detachably mounted, the cartridge having a connector and a recording head portion for discharging ink to perform image recording. The mounting portion has a body connector associated therewith for electrically connecting the connector of the cartridge to the apparatus. A recording head positioner positions the recording head portion of the cartridge on the mounting portion. An operation device displaces the cartridge and the body connector relative to each other to connect the body connector to the cartridge connector.

Abstract: The improvement is in the driving mechanism and positioning mechanism between an image bearing member and a main assembly of an image forming apparatus using the image bearing member. The image bearing member has a shaft receiving portion adjacent the center thereof to receive a positioning shaft of the main assembly when the image bearing member is mounted in said main assembly. By the receiving engagement, the image bearing member is correctly positioned with respect to the main assembly. The image bearing member is also provided with a driving force receiving portion where the image bearing member is engaged with a driving member of the main assembly so that the image bearing member can be driven from the main assembly. In such an arrangement, the shaft receiving portion and the driving force receiving portion are radially overlapped, at least in part, with each other as seen from a rotational axis of the image bearing member.

Abstract: A transmissive original projecting apparatus has an illuminator for illuminating a transmissive original, a projector for directing light transmitted through the transmissive original to the original supportion portion of an original reading apparatus, and a connecting device for connecting the illuminating illuminator and the projector together.

Abstract: The improvement is in the driving mechanism and positioning mechanism between an image bearing member and a main assembly of an image forming apparatus using the image bearing member. The image bearing member has a shaft receiving portion adjacent the center thereof to receive a positioning shaft of the main assembly when the image bearing member is mounted in said main assembly. By the receiving engagement, the image bearing member is correctly positioned with respect to the main assembly. The image bearing member is also provided with a driving force receiving portion where the image bearing member is engaged with a driving member of the main assembly so that the image bearing member can be driven from the main assembly. In such an arrangement, the shaft receiving portion and the driving force receiving portion are radially overlapped, at least in part, with each other as seen from a rotational axis of the image bearing member.

Abstract: A process kit includes a support member having a photosensitive member integrally mounted thereon together with process elements for acting on the photosensitive member. The support member is mountable on and removable from a main image forming apparatus having an optical system for projecting an image onto the photosensitive member. The support member has a positioning element for engaging the optical system in order to position the optical system accurately with respect to the photosensitive member. This configuration permits sharply formed images to be formed on the photosensitive member after removal and remounting of the process kit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a position detection capability to prevent an image forming operation starting signal being generated by mistake to thereby start the image forming operation when an image forming apparatus is not in its normal installed state for use, for example, when the apparatus is in its carried state or its erected state with one side thereof facing downward.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image of an original using an optical image of the original has: a first assembly; a second assembly cooperable with the first assembly the second assembly being movable relative to the first assembly; between a closed position wherein the apparatus is operable and an open position wherein the apparatus is opened; a reciprocable original supporting member for supporting an original; an optical system, in the second assembly, for forming the image of the original supported on the original supporting member; a second guiding member, on the second assembly, for guiding and positioning the original supporting member adjacent one of the sides of the original support member, wherein the original supporting member is movable to be disengaged from the second guiding member, the second guiding member being contactable with the original supporting member to correctly position the original supporting member with respect to the second assembly when it is engaged with the original

Abstract: An image bearing member which is detachably mounted into a main assembly, and which is to be electrically connected with the main assembly. The image bearing member has a conductive drum member having an insulating flange. Adjacent an inside end of the insulating flange, a conductive member is provided in the manner it is electrically connected to an inner surface of the conductive drum member. The conductive member is electrically connected with a conductive member of a main assembly when the image bearing member is mounted in the main assembly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus wherein an image formed on an image bearing member is transferred onto a transfer material includes a feeder for feeding the transfer material to an image transfer station wherein the image is transferred from the image bearing member onto the transfer material; a guiding member for guiding the transfer material fed from the feeder to the transfer station in a guiding direction; a guide support for supporting the guiding member for movement in the guiding direction and in a direction transverse with the guiding direction; and an image bearing member supporting member for supporting the image bearing member for movement between a first position wherein the image forming apparatus is operable and a second position which is different from the first position, the image bearing member supporting member having an engaging portion for engagement with a part of the guiding member to correctly position the guiding member when the image bearing member supporting member takes its first positio

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having first body portion and a second body portion that swings into and out from the first body portion and a rack and pinion drive arrangement mounted on the first body portion for driving a carriage over an optical system on the second body portion when it is swung into the first body portion. The rack and pinion are disengaged when the carriage is moved away from the optical system to allow the second body portion to swing out from first body portion; and the rack and pinion have a flexible flange or specially shaped teeth to provide proper positioning of the pinion for smooth reengagement.

Abstract: A recording apparatus which includes a bottom plate constituting a bottom portion of the recording apparatus, a first unit fixed to the bottom plate and contributable to a recording operation of the recording apparatus, a second unit fixed to the bottom plate and contributable to the recording operation, and a third unit which is elongated and is contributable to the recording operation and which is fixed adjacent its one longitudinal end to the first unit and is fixed adjacent its other end to the second unit is arranged in such a manner that the mechanical strength of the whole assembly of the recording apparatus is increased. This is done without requiring additional structural members by having functional parts provide structural support for the apparatus.

Abstract: Various components of image-forming means such as corona discharger, developing device and cleaning means are arranged around a photosensitive drum. These processing parts and the photosensitive drum are assembled together into a unit which can be detachably mounted into the main body of image-forming apparatus. Such a unit is called process kit. The process kit is provided with a driving connection member for receiving a driving force from the main body. The present invention provides safety means for effectively protecting said driving connection member from shock and impact thereby assuring the utility of the process kit for a long time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which may be portable wherein the apparatus is divisible into plural parts or wherein it is openable. The apparatus is provided with a latch which can take a latching position for preventing the dividing or opening of the apparatus and a releasing position for allowing the apparatus to be divided or opened. The latch shifts between the positions depending on the posture of the apparatus. When the apparatus takes its horizontal posture wherein it is operable for image formation, the latch is released to allow the apparatus to be opened. When the apparatus is placed or carried in an upright position, the latch is prevented from taking its releasing position, thus preventing the apparatus from being divided or opened erroneously.