Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes first and second conveyance paths, a conveyance roller pair, first and second conveyance guides, and a holding unit. The reverse unit reverses a sheet having passed through the first conveyance path. The second conveyance path conveys the sheet having passed through the first conveyance path between the reverse unit and the first conveyance path. The conveyance roller pair nips and convey the reversed sheet. The first conveyance guide forms the second conveyance path and the second conveyance guide forms the second conveyance path. The holding unit moveably holds the first conveyance guide. The first conveyance guide moves between a first position located at a first distance from the second conveyance guide and a second position located at a second distance. The sheet reversed by the reverse unit is conveyed toward the conveyance roller pair by the first conveyance guide located at the first position.

Abstract: The sheet discharge apparatus sets a discharge speed at which a sheet is discharged by a discharge device to a first discharge speed when a bundle of sheets includes a first number of sheets and sets the discharge speed to a second discharge speed that is lower than the first discharge speed when the bundle of sheets includes a second number of sheets that is greater than the first number of sheets.

Abstract: A sheet supporting apparatus includes a cassette body supporting a sheet, a regulation device disposed on the cassette body in a moving direction and regulating a position of an edge of the sheet, and a plurality of engaged portions disposed on the cassette body. The regulation device includes a body portion, an engaging portion moving between an engagement position at which the engaging portion engages with one of the engaged portions and a separation position at which the engaging portion is separated from the engaged portions, an operation member pivotably supported on the body portion and operated between a first posture at which the operation member positions the engaging portion at the engagement position and a second posture at which the operation member positions the engaging portion at the separation position, and a retention portion retaining the operation member at the first posture.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge, a first door, and a second door. The first door is movable between a first closed position and a first open position to permit dismounting the cartridge from the main. The second door is movable, independently of the first door, between a second closed position for closing the main assembly and a second opened position for uncovering the first door and for opening the main assembly. The second door is provided with a recess. When the first door is in the first open position, the recess of the second door is capable of accommodating at least a part of the first door. The cartridge is capable of being inserted into the main assembly while sliding on the second door and then on the first door.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge, a photosensitive drum and a cleaning member for the drum; a first door movable between a first closing position and a first opening position to permit dismounting the cartridge from the main assembly; and a second door at a position where it covers the first door, the second door being movable, independently of the first door, between a second closing position for closing the main assembly and a second position for uncovering the first door and for opening the main assembly. The second door is provided with a recess. When the first door is in the first opening position, the recess of the second door is capable of accommodating at least a part of the first door. The cartridge is capable of being inserted into the main assembly while sliding on the second door and then on the first door.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion to be mounted into and drawn out of a mounting portion and provided with a side plate including a grip portion by which the sheet stacking portion can be drawn out in the draw-out direction. The sheet stacking portion is supported to be slidable in a draw-out direction by a rail, and the rail is supported to be slidable in the draw-out direction by a rail supporting portion provided in the mounting portion. A rotator is provided on either the rail supporting portion or the rail and disposed in contact with the other of the rail supporting portion and the rail. The rail, the rail supporting portion and the rotator are disposed on one side in the width direction of the sheet stacking portion, and the grip portion is disposed on the other side in the width direction.

Abstract: A developer transporting device includes a first transport passage through which a developer is transported in a first direction along a direction oriented downwardly in a direction of gravity, and a second transport passage which communicates with the first transport passage on a downstream side of the first transport passage and through which the developer is transported in a second direction along a direction oriented upwardly. The first transport passage is provided with a first transport force generating member which generates a transport force for transporting the developer in the first direction, and the second transport passage is provided with a second transport force generating member which generates a transport force for transporting the developer in the second direction.

Abstract: Provided is a developer transporting device including: a first transport passage through which a developer is transported in a first direction along a direction oriented downwardly in a direction of gravity; and a second transport passage which communicates with the first transport passage on a downstream side of the first transport passage and through which the developer is transported in a second direction along a direction oriented upwardly, wherein the first transport passage is provided with first transport force generating member which generates a transport force for transporting the developer in the first direction, and the second transport passage is provided with second transport force generating member which generates a transport force for transporting the developer in the second direction.

Abstract: A sheet supporting apparatus includes a cassette body supporting a sheet, a regulation device disposed on the cassette body in a moving direction and regulating a position of an edge of the sheet, and a plurality of engaged portions disposed on the cassette body. The regulation device includes a body portion, an engaging portion moving between an engagement position at which the engaging portion engages with one of the engaged portions and a separation position at which the engaging portion is separated from the engaged portions, an operation member pivotably supported on the body portion and operated between a first posture at which the operation member positions the engaging portion at the engagement position and a second posture at which the operation member positions the engaging portion at the separation position, and a retention portion retaining the operation member at the first posture.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion to be mounted into and drawn out of a mounting portion and provided with a side plate including a grip portion by which the sheet stacking portion can be drawn out in the draw-out direction. The sheet stacking portion is supported to be slidable in a draw-out direction by a rail, and the rail is supported to be slidable in the draw-out direction by a rail supporting portion provided in the mounting portion. A rotator is provided on either the rail supporting portion or the rail and disposed in contact with the other of the rail supporting portion and the rail. The rail, the rail supporting portion and the rotator are disposed on one side in the width direction of the sheet stacking portion, and the grip portion is disposed on the other side in the width direction.

Abstract: A sheet supporting apparatus includes a supporting portion to support a sheet, and a regulation unit to regulate a position of an edge of the supported sheet. The regulation unit includes a body portion, an engagement portion to move between an engagement position at which the engagement portion engages with the supporting portion and a separation position at which the engagement portion is separated away from the supporting portion, and an operation portion to move the engagement portion between the engagement position and the separation position. The operation portion is pivotably supported by the body portion and includes a pressing portion to press the engagement portion from the engagement position to the separation position by the operation portion being pivoted. In addition, a fixing component fixes the operation portion to be immovable with respect to the body portion so as to retain the engagement portion at the engagement position.

Abstract: A stacking device which stacks a sheet includes a stacking unit on which the sheet is configured to be stacked, a regulating member, a moving member, and a restricting member. The regulating member is provided to be movable in a first direction and a second direction, which is a direction opposite to the first direction, and to regulate a position of the sheet stacked on the stacking unit. The moving member moves in a direction that is the same as a moving direction of the regulating member in accordance with the regulating member. The restricting member restricts movement of the moving member. So that the regulating member moves independently of the moving member, the restricting member restricts the movement of the moving member in a partial range of a range in which the regulating member moves.

Abstract: A sheet supporting apparatus includes a supporting portion configured to support a sheet, and a regulation unit configured to regulate a position of edge of the sheet supported by the supporting portion, the regulation unit configured to be moved and positioned with respect to the supporting portion. The regulation unit includes a body portion, an engagement portion supported by the body portion, and configured to move between an engagement position at which the engagement portion engages with the supporting portion and a separation position at which the engagement portion is separated away from the supporting portion, and a regulation portion configured to position the engagement portion with respect to the body portion such that the engagement portion is retained at the engagement position.

Abstract: A stacking device which stacks a sheet includes a stacking unit on which the sheet is configured to be stacked, a regulating member, a moving member, and a restricting member. The regulating member is provided to be movable in a first direction and a second direction, which is a direction opposite to the first direction, and to regulate a position of the sheet stacked on the stacking unit. The moving member moves in a direction that is the same as a moving direction of the regulating member in accordance with the regulating member. The restricting member restricts movement of the moving member. So that the regulating member moves independently of the moving member, the restricting member restricts the movement of the moving member in a partial range of a range in which the regulating member moves.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a moving member, and a sensor detecting the sheet based on the move of the moving member. The moving member moves in a direction approaching a first position from a second position before a rear end of the sheet passes through the moving member after moving from the first position to the second position by being pressed by the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable member equipped with an operating unit for operating the image forming apparatus, wherein the movable member can be a first state and a second state by changing its position with respect to an main body of the apparatus, and a holding unit configured to hold the movable member, wherein the direction in which the operating unit is depressed in order to operate the image forming apparatus is the direction in which the movable member is depressed when the position of the movable member is changed from the first state to the second state, and wherein the holding unit holds the movable member so that the requisite force for changing the movable member from the first state to the second state is larger than the requisite force for changing the movable member from the second state to the first state.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a moving member, and a sensor detecting the sheet based on the move of the moving member. The moving member moves in a direction approaching a first position from a second position before a rear end of the sheet passes through the moving member after moving from the first position to the second position by being pressed by the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable member equipped with an operating unit for operating the image forming apparatus, wherein the movable member can be a first state and a second state by changing its position with respect to an main body of the apparatus, and a holding unit configured to hold the movable member, wherein the direction in which the operating unit is depressed in order to operate the image forming apparatus is the direction in which the movable member is depressed when the position of the movable member is changed from the first state to the second state, and wherein the holding unit holds the movable member so that the requisite force for changing the movable member from the first state to the second state is larger than the requisite force for changing the movable member from the second state to the first state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet; an image reading portion for reading an original, the image forming portion having a printed board having a projecting board surface projecting on an image reading portion side; a hinge portion having a pivot axis for pivotably supporting the image reading portion relative to the image forming portion; and a cable having a connector to be electrically connected with a connector receiving portion provided on the projecting board surface, wherein, within the image forming apparatus, the cable is folded back in a U-shape in a vicinity of the pivot axis from the image reading portion side to an image forming portion side, with the connector of the cable being connected to the connector receiving portion from a direction substantially perpendicular to the projecting board surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet; an image reading portion for reading an original, the image forming portion having a printed board having a projecting board surface projecting on an image reading portion side; a hinge portion having a pivot axis for pivotably supporting the image reading portion relative to the image forming portion; and a cable having a connector to be electrically connected with a connector receiving portion provided on the projecting board surface, wherein, within the image forming apparatus, the cable is folded back in a U-shape in a vicinity of the pivot axis from the image reading portion side to an image forming portion side, with the connector of the cable being connected to the connector receiving portion from a direction substantially perpendicular to the projecting board surface.