Abstract: A gas sensor (1) including a sensor element (10); a metallic shell (138); a tubular outer surface member (190) attached directly or indirectly to the metallic shell, constitutes an outer surface of the gas sensor, and extends toward a rear end side in relation to the metallic shell; and a tubular protection member (210, 220) which is detachably fixed to a fixation region C1, C2 of an outer circumference of the outer surface member. The protection member includes a first arc portion (212), a second arc portion (222), and a fixation portion (214,224) brought into contact with and is fixed to the fixation region. When the protection member fixed to the outer circumference of the outer surface member by fixing the fixation portion to the fixation region is viewed in the axial O direction, the first arc portion and the second arc portion cover in total at least 90% of the entire circumference of the outer surface of the outer surface member.

Abstract: There is provided a maintenance apparatus for an image recording apparatus provided with a head having a nozzle configured to discharge a liquid. The maintenance apparatus includes: a foam configured to absorb the liquid discharged from the nozzle; an accommodating box which is opened upwardly and which accommodates the foam; and a plate configured to cover an upper part of the accommodating box. The plate has an opening configured to expose a part of an upper surface of the foam in a state that the plate is locked to the accommodating box.

Abstract: There is provided a maintenance apparatus for an image recording apparatus provided with a head having a nozzle configured to discharge a liquid. The maintenance apparatus includes: a foam configured to absorb the liquid discharged from the nozzle; and an accommodating box which is opened upwardly and which accommodates the foam. An inner bottom surface of the accommodating box has a projection supporting a bottom surface of the foam so that the bottom surface of the foam is positioned separated from the inner bottom surface of the accommodating box.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a toner image forming portion, a foil transfer unit, a sheet tray, and a discharge portion. The toner image forming portion is provided in the housing and configured to form a toner image on a sheet. The foil transfer unit is configured to superpose a foil with a surface of the sheet. The sheet tray is installable in the housing in an inserting direction and configured to accommodate a sheet to be supplied to the toner image forming portion. The first discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the foil transfer unit to the outside of the housing in a discharging direction opposite to the inserting direction. The second discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the toner image forming portion to the outside of the housing without passing through the foil transfer unit in the discharge direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a toner image forming portion, a foil transfer unit, a sheet tray, and a discharge portion. The toner image forming portion is provided in the housing and configured to form a toner image on a sheet. The foil transfer unit is configured to superpose a foil with a surface of the sheet. The sheet tray is installable in the housing in an inserting direction and configured to accommodate a sheet to be supplied to the toner image forming portion. The first discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the foil transfer unit to the outside of the housing in a discharging direction opposite to the inserting direction. The second discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the toner image forming portion to the outside of the housing without passing through the foil transfer unit in the discharge direction.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a housing formed with an opening part; and a process cartridge detachably attachable to the housing through the opening part in a first direction. The housing includes a first support part arranged at the opening part, and a cover movable between a closed position and an opened position. The cover includes a second support part positioned away from the first support part in the first direction when the cover is at the opened position. The process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge having a drum frame; and a toner cartridge detachably attachable to the drum frame. When the cover is at the opened position, the first support part and the second support part are configured to support the drum frame of the process cartridge detached from the housing to restrict displacement of the drum frame in the first direction.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a housing formed with an opening part; and a process cartridge detachably attachable to the housing through the opening part in a first direction. The housing includes a first support part arranged at the opening part, and a cover movable between a closed position and an opened position. The cover includes a second support part positioned away from the first support part in the first direction when the cover is at the opened position. The process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge having a drum frame; and a toner cartridge detachably attachable to the drum frame. When the cover is at the opened position, the first support part and the second support part are configured to support the drum frame of the process cartridge detached from the housing to restrict displacement of the drum frame in the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a housing, a cover, an interlock switch, a locking assembly, and a biasing assembly. The housing may comprise a pair of frames spaced apart from each other, and may form an opening between the pair of frames. The cover may move between a covered position wherein the opening is covered and an opened position wherein the opening is uncovered. The interlock switch may be pressed by the cover when the cover is in the covered position. The locking assembly may move between a locking state wherein the locking assembly locks the cover in the covered position and a released state wherein the locking assembly allows the cover to move. Further, the biasing assembly may be positioned in or on at least one of the frames, and may bias the cover toward the opened position when the cover is in the covered position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a housing, a flapper swingable relatively to the housing between a first position and a second position; a pressure link swingable relatively to the housing and the flapper, a first contact surface arranged on the housing, a first urging member to urge the flapper to swing relatively to the pressure link toward the first contact surface, a second urging member to urge the pressure link to act on the flapper to tend toward staying in the first position, and a flapper switcher having a pressure applier movable between a pressing position and a separated position, is provided. The flapper is swingable relatively to the pressure link against an urging force from the first urging member, after the pressure applier presses the pressure link to move the flapper from the first position to the second position and when the flapper contacts the first contact surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a housing, a flapper swingable relatively to the housing between a first position and a second position; a pressure link swingable relatively to the housing and the flapper, a first contact surface arranged on the housing, a first urging member to urge the flapper to swing relatively to the pressure link toward the first contact surface, a second urging member to urge the pressure link to act on the flapper to tend toward staying in the first position, and a flapper switcher having a pressure applier movable between a pressing position and a separated position, is provided. The flapper is swingable relatively to the pressure link against an urging force from the first urging member, after the pressure applier presses the pressure link to move the flapper from the first position to the second position and when the flapper contacts the first contact surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a housing, a cover, an interlock switch, a locking assembly, and a biasing assembly. The housing may comprise a pair of frames spaced apart from each other, and may form an opening between the pair of frames. The cover may move between a covered position wherein the opening is covered and an opened position wherein the opening is uncovered. The interlock switch may be pressed by the cover when the cover is in the covered position. The locking assembly may move between a locking state wherein the locking assembly locks the cover in the covered position and a released state wherein the locking assembly allows the cover to move. Further, the biasing assembly may be positioned in or on at least one of the frames, and may bias the cover toward the opened position when the cover is in the covered position.

Abstract: A floating connector, including a connector, a holder configured to support the connector, a retainer configured to retain the holder floating, and an urging member configured to urge the holder, is provided. The retainer includes a retainer-side positioning section. The holder includes a holder-side positioning section, which is configured to locate the holder in a predetermined position with respect to the retainer by contacting the retainer-side positioning section. The holder-side positioning section of the holder is urged by the urging member to contact the retainer-side positioning section of the retainer.

Abstract: A floating connector, including a connector, a holder configured to support the connector, a retainer configured to retain the holder floating, and an urging member configured to urge the holder, is provided. The retainer includes a retainer-side positioning section. The holder includes a holder-side positioning section, which is configured to locate the holder in a predetermined position with respect to the retainer by contacting the retainer-side positioning section. The holder-side positioning section of the holder is urged by the urging member to contact the retainer-side positioning section of the retainer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a heating member that heats a recording medium, a backup member that rotates and contacts the heating member, and a pressure mechanism that supports one of the heating member and the backup member such that the one of the heating member and the backup member moves relative to the other. The apparatus includes a main body including the fixing unit inside, and has a first opening on a downstream side of the fixing unit and a second opening on a side of the main body different from the first opening. Also the apparatus has first and second covers that open and close the first and second openings, respectively, and an interlocking mechanism that causes the pressure mechanism to move the one of the heating member and the backup member in conjunction with movement of the first cover and the second cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a turn-around mechanism, and a re-feeding unit that includes a first feeding unit having a guide curved to bulge in such a direction as to be farther from an image forming unit, the guide defining an outer side of a curved first feeding route for feeding a sheet received from the turn-around mechanism, and a second feeding unit defining a second feeding route for feeding the sheet fed via the first feeding route, the guide including a first section on a first side thereof in the width direction of the sheet, and a second section around a second side opposite to the first side thereof in the width direction, the second section being curved to bulge more than the first section in such a direction as to be farther from the image forming unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a frame, a pressure arm pivotably supported on the frame, and a nip release lever supported on the pressure arm. The pressure arm can release pressure contact between a heating roller and a pressure roller. The nip release lever can move between a pressing position and a release position so as to move the pressure roller between a position at which the pressure roller applies pressure to the heating roller and a position at which the pressure roller applies no pressure. The nip release lever can be halted in the release position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a frame, a pressure arm pivotably supported on the frame, and a nip release lever supported on the pressure arm. The pressure arm can release pressure contact between a heating roller and a pressure roller. The nip release lever can move between a pressing position and a release position so as to move the pressure roller between a position at which the pressure roller applies pressure to the heating roller and a position at which the pressure roller applies no pressure. The nip release lever can be halted in the release position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a turn-around mechanism, and a re-feeding unit that includes a first feeding unit having a guide curved to bulge in such a direction as to be farther from an image forming unit, the guide defining an outer side of a curved first feeding route for feeding a sheet received from the turn-around mechanism, and a second feeding unit defining a second feeding route for feeding the sheet fed via the first feeding route, the guide including a first section on a first side thereof in the width direction of the sheet, and a second section around a second side opposite to the first side thereof in the width direction, the second section being curved to bulge more than the first section in such a direction as to be farther from the image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a heating member that heats a recording medium, a backup member that rotates and contacts the heating member, and a pressure mechanism that supports one of the heating member and the backup member such that the one of the heating member and the backup member moves relative to the other. The apparatus includes a main body including the fixing unit inside, and has a first opening on a downstream side of the fixing unit and a second opening on a side of the main body different from the first opening. Also the apparatus has first and second covers that open and close the first and second openings, respectively, and an interlocking mechanism that causes the pressure mechanism to move the one of the heating member and the backup member in conjunction with movement of the first cover and the second cover.

Abstract: This invention provides a slide deck device, for a vehicle, which prevents a slide deck from rattling with respect to a floor surface of a vehicle even if an upward load is applied to the side deck in a state where the slide deck is completely drawn into the vehicle. The slide deck device is provided with a supporting member 30 provided on a floor surface 15 and supporting an undersurface of a slide deck 20, a floor contact-member 52 provided on the floor surface, and a slide deck contact-member 60 provided on the undersurface of the slide deck. When the slide deck is located at the accommodated position, the slide deck contact-member is in contact with the undersurface of the floor contact-member.