Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner case, an apparatus main body and a cover. The toner case includes a case main body, a shutter and a manipulation portion. The case main body has a discharge port configured to discharge a toner. The shutter opens/closes the discharge port. The manipulation portion is movable between a first position to make the shutter open the discharge port and a second position to make the shutter close the discharge port. To the apparatus main body, the toner case is detachably attached. The cover is openably/closably attached to the apparatus main body. The cover includes an interfering member. The interfering member is movable between an interfering position where the interfering member interferes with the manipulation portion being in the second position and an interference release position where the interfering member does not interfere with the manipulation portion being in the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a dustproof shutter, a lock lever, a shutter lever and an elastic member. The dustproof shutter is openably/closably supported in a case so as to protect an exposure device. The lock lever is configured to lock a cover openably/closably provided in the case, and to be movable in an opening direction of the cover. The shutter lever is provided at a position coming into contact with the lock lever and the dustproof shutter when the cover is closed. The elastic member biases the shutter lever toward the lock lever. The shutter lever moves between a first position to open the dustproof shutter when the cover is locked and a second position to close the dustproof shutter when the cover is unlocked by moving the lock lever in the opening direction of the cover with assistance from a biasing force of the elastic member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism restricts a turning of the cover from a closed position. The locking mechanism has a first locking member, a second locking member and a lever member. The first locking member and the second locking member are movable between a lock position where they engage with the apparatus main body and an unlock position where they disengage with the apparatus main body. The lever member moves the first locking member and the second locking member between the lock position and the unlock position. An engagement quantity of the first locking member with the apparatus main body is larger than that of the second locking member at the lock position. The first locking member is formed with an engaging piece which is turnable by turning of the cover in an opening direction at the unlock position.

Abstract: A movable member installed in a bottom portion of a housing is configured such that, if the amount of a toner existing within the housing is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount, the movable member lies down in a lying-down position where the movable member extends along an inner wall surface of the bottom portion of the housing and, if the amount of the toner existing within the housing is less than the predetermined amount, the movable member moves from the lying-down position to a protruding position where at least a portion of the movable member protrudes from the inner wall surface of the bottom portion of the housing. A stirring sheet is configured such that, if the stirring sheet moves in a state that an engaging portion engages with the movable member, the base end portion of the stirring sheet is detached from the shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner case, an apparatus main body and a cover. The toner case includes a case main body, a shutter and a manipulation portion. The case main body has a discharge port configured to discharge a toner. The shutter opens/closes the discharge port. The manipulation portion is movable between a first position to make the shutter open the discharge port and a second position to make the shutter close the discharge port. To the apparatus main body, the toner case is detachably attached. The cover is openably/closably attached to the apparatus main body. The cover includes an interfering member. The interfering member is movable between an interfering position where the interfering member interferes with the manipulation portion being in the second position and an interference release position where the interfering member does not interfere with the manipulation portion being in the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a dustproof shutter, a lock lever, a shutter lever and an elastic member. The dustproof shutter is openably/closably supported in a case so as to protect an exposure device. The lock lever is configured to lock a cover openably/closably provided in the case, and to be movable in an opening direction of the cover. The shutter lever is provided at a position coming into contact with the lock lever and the dustproof shutter when the cover is closed. The elastic member biases the shutter lever toward the lock lever. The shutter lever moves between a first position to open the dustproof shutter when the cover is locked and a second position to move the lock lever in the opening direction of the cover by a biasing force of the elastic member and closing the dustproof shutter when the cover is unlocked.

Abstract: A movable member installed in a bottom portion of a housing is configured such that, if the amount of a toner existing within the housing is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount, the movable member lies down in a lying-down position where the movable member extends along an inner wall surface of the bottom portion of the housing and, if the amount of the toner existing within the housing is less than the predetermined amount, the movable member moves from the lying-down position to a protruding position where at least a portion of the movable member protrudes from the inner wall surface of the bottom portion of the housing. A stirring sheet is configured such that, if the stirring sheet moves in a state that an engaging portion engages with the movable member, the base end portion of the stirring sheet is detached from the shaft.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus (10), one (wall surface (201)) of facing wall surfaces of an inverting conveyance path (R3) for turning a sheet (P), which had a toner image formed after an image forming operation in an image forming unit (13) fixed thereto, front side back is formed on a swing door (20) openably and closably provided on an apparatus main body (11). A swing-door supporting structure (30) is provided to rotatably support the swing door (20) at positions of supporting points of rotation of the swing door (20) (center axis positions of shaft main bodies (41)). The swing-door supporting structure (30) is so constructed as to ensure a specified width of the inverting conveyance path (R3) with the swing door (20) closed while moving the swing door (20) in a direction away from the inverting conveyance path R3 by opening the swing door (20).

Abstract: A sheet transport mechanism is disclosed that has a simple structure and does not occupy a large amount of space. A return transport path includes a transport guide plate that guides and transports a sheet, a first U-shaped transport guide member having a curvature radius of approximately 60 mm or less, and a pair of transport rollers. The sheet conveying direction on the return transport path is changed by the first transport member, and the sheet is guided to a pair of sheet stopper rollers. Furthermore, a convex member is formed on the transport guide plate between the pair of transport rollers and the first U-shaped transport guide member in order to curve the sheet transported on the return transport path.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus (10), one (wall surface (201)) of facing wall surfaces of an inverting conveyance path (R3) for turning a sheet (P), which had a toner image formed after an image forming operation in an image forming unit (13) fixed thereto, front side back is formed on a swing door (20) openably and closably provided on an apparatus main body (11). A swing-door supporting structure (30) is provided to rotatably support the swing door (20) at positions of supporting points of rotation of the swing door (20) (center axis positions of shaft main bodies (41)). The swing-door supporting structure (30) is so constructed as to ensure a specified width of the inverting conveyance path (R3) with the swing door (20) closed while moving the swing door (20) in a direction away from the inverting conveyance path R3 by opening the swing door (20).