Abstract: A document feeder to be mounted atop an image reading device having a stationary optical system disposed under a contact glass. The document feeder includes a document original plate for holding thereon document originals, a document original feeding mechanism for feeding a document original from the document original plate onto a contact glass, a document original transporting mechanism for transporting the document original fed by the document original feeding mechanism along the upper surface of the contact glass, a document original discharging mechanism for discharging the document original transported by the document original transporting mechanism, and a document original discharge plate for receiving the document original discharged by the document original discharging mechanism. The document original feeding mechanism, the document original transporting mechanism and the document original discharging mechanism are integrally supported in a unit body to constitute a single unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus having a feeding roller for feeding a sheet, a support shaft forwardly and reversely rotatable integrally with the feeding roller and a stopper disposed upstream of the feeding roller in the sheet feeding direction for temporarily regulating the feed of a sheet to the feeding roller. When the rotation in one direction of the feeding roller is transmitted to a locking member through a one-way clutch, the locking member is rotated to lock the stopper. When the feeding roller is rotated in the opposite direction, the locked state of the stopper is released.

Abstract: An original guiding device capable of improving the conveyance of an original in an original conveying path. There is provided an original carrying-in path formed so as to be inclined from the original conveying path and a guiding mechanism for guiding the original while restraining the deformation of the original between the original carrying-in path and the original conveying path. The guiding mechanism may be one for guiding the original while elastically holding the original therein.

Abstract: An image-forming machine comprises a sheet member conveying passage extending through a transfer zone and a fixing zone, a sheet member-feeding means for feeding a sheet member onto the sheet member conveying passage, and a sheet member conveying means for conveying the sheet member through the sheet member conveying passage. A housing of the image-forming machine has a lower surface defined by an intermediate lower wall and an upper surface defined by an intermediate upper wall, and forms a space of which the front surface is opened. The downstream end portion of the sheet member conveying passage extends along a one side portion of the intermediate lower wall on the lower side thereof. The one side portion of the intermediate lower wall is defined by the opening/closing member, and opening/closing member is brought to the open position to open the downstream end portion of the sheet member conveying passage. The sheet member conveying means includes a pair of register rollers.