Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, when a first sheet discharger discharges a sheet bearing an image in a first direction from a proximal end to a distal end of the image forming apparatus, a post-processing device performs post-processing including at least one of stapling, punching, stamping, and sorting of the sheet discharged from the first sheet discharger. After a second sheet discharger discharges the processed sheet in a second direction opposite to the first direction in which the first sheet discharger discharges the sheet bearing the image, a sheet stacker stacks the sheet discharged from the second sheet discharger. A sheet conveyance path is provided between the first sheet discharger and the second sheet discharger. An opening is provided between the sheet stacker and an image reader so that the sheet discharged from the second sheet discharger can be retrieved from the sheet stacker in the second direction.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an upper unit rotates about a first shaft provided in an image forming device for forming an image on a sheet with respect to the image forming device. A slide portion is provided on the upper unit to slide in a forward direction toward a side of the image forming device in which the first shaft is provided and a backward direction opposite to the forward direction. The forward direction and the backward direction are perpendicular to an axial direction of the first shaft. A force applier applies a force to the upper unit in an open direction in which the upper unit is opened with respect to the image forming device. A force adjuster decreases the force applied by the force applier to the upper unit as the slide portion slides with respect to the upper unit in the forward direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming section; an upper unit located over the image forming section with a space therebetween and slidable in a direction of from the front side to the rear side of the apparatus and the opposite direction; a sheet discharger configured to discharge a sheet bearing an image in the first or opposite direction; a sheet stacker receiving the sheet from the sheet discharger; a support arranged outside of both side ends of the sheet stacker in the first direction and slidably supporting the upper unit; and at least one of a release preventing member for preventing releasing of the upper unit from the support, and a covering member movable from a first position to a second position in conjunction with sliding of the upper unit and covering an opening formed at an end portion of the support when acquiring the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an image reading part to read an image of an original, an image recording part to record the image read by the image reading part on a sheet, a sheet discharge part to discharge the sheet recorded by the image recording part from front to rear of a main body of the image forming apparatus, a sheet stack part to stack the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge part between the image reading part and the image recording part, first and second supporters provided outside the sheet stack part along a discharge direction of the sheet to form a space between the sheet stack part and the image reading part, and a lock mechanism to lock the image reading part. The image reading part slides relative to the first and second supporters in the discharge direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an image reading part, an image forming part, a sheet discharge part, and a sheet stack part. The image reading part has a front surface located on a downstream side in a discharge direction of a sheet relative to a front of the sheet stack part. The sheet stack part includes a first stacker surface provided on an upstream side in the discharge direction and including a surface having a slope extending upward in the discharge direction and a second stacker surface formed adjacent to the first stacker surface and sloping less steeply upward in the discharge direction than the slope of the first stacker surface with a boundary between the first stacker surface and the second stacker surface located at a rear of the front surface of the image reading part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an upper cover attached to a main body, an image forming part provided in the main body and configured to record an image on a sheet, an image reading part having a document press member, and a lock mechanism. The upper cover is configured to be pivotable on a support axis with respect to the main body. The image reading part is slidably mounted on the upper cover. The document press member is configured to open and close with respect to a housing of the image reading part in a direction similar to a direction in which the upper cover opens and closes. The lock mechanism is configured to prevent the document press member from opening over a slidable range of the image reading part when the upper cover is opened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reading part configured to read image information on an original document, an image forming part configured to form an image on a sheet according to the image information, a sheet discharge part configured to discharge the sheet on which the image is formed from a front side to a backside of a main body, a sheet stack part onto which the sheet is discharged, and first and second supporters located outside the sheet stack part along a sheet discharge direction. The sheet stack part is located between the image reading part and the image forming part. The first and second supporters form a space between the sheet stack part and the image reading part. The second supporter is smaller than the first supporter in the sheet discharge direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an image reading part, an image forming part to form an image on a sheet, a sheet discharge part to discharge the sheet from front to rear of the image forming apparatus, a sheet stack part to stack the sheet between the image reading part and the image forming part, a supporter provided outside the sheet stack part along a discharge direction of the sheet to form a space between the sheet stack part and the image reading part, a connector to electrically connect the image forming part with the image reading part, a bending unit provided between the image reading part and the supporter to bend back the connector in a sliding direction of the image reading part, and a bend limiter provided at a rear position of the image reading part in the sliding direction to limit bending of the connector.

Abstract: An upper frame opening and closing mechanism, including an upper frame pivotally attached to a main body, which may include an image forming device, so as to open and close on a hinge, which receives a moment in an opening direction due to gravity when the upper frame is opened at an angle exceeding an inversion angle to expose the image forming device, an arm member, a rail member to guide a leading edge of the arm member along with opening and closing of the upper frame, a biasing member to bias the upper frame in the opening direction, and a cushion member to be pressed by the leading edge of the arm member so as to cushion the opening of the upper frame when the upper frame is opened at a maximum opening angle relative to the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first housing, a rotary shaft attached to the first housing, a second housing supported by the first housing, and first and second open-close assist members. The second housing is configured to open and close with respect to the first housing by rotating around the rotary shaft. The first and the second open-close assist members are directly attached to the first housing and the second housing and configured to assist opening and closing the second housing. The first and the second open-close assist members share assistance in opening and closing the second housing.

Abstract: An upper frame member is pivotally attached to an apparatus body so as to pivot between a closed position and an open position. The apparatus body is closed when the upper frame member is in the closed position, and the apparatus body is opened to expose an image forming unit when the upper frame member is in the open position. A locking member locks the upper frame member to the apparatus body when the upper frame member is in the closed position. An operation member positioned on a sheet stacking surface releases the locking member to unlock the upper frame member from the apparatus body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body housing, an image reading block for reading a manuscript image, and an image forming block located below the image reading block and for forming an image on a recording sheet. Also included is an operation block located at a front side part of the image reading block, and a sheet discharge space provided between the image reading block and the image forming block, and for receiving a discharge recording sheet having the image formed by the image forming block. The sheet discharge space is opened at at least one side in a width-wise direction of the main body housing and at a front side so the at least one opened side communicates with the front side. Further, a front end portion of the image reading block is located above the sheet discharge space and is arranged at a position shifted toward a rear end side of the main body housing from a front outside wall surface of the main body housing.

Abstract: A drive unit including a drive shaft, a drive pulley attached to the drive shaft, and a drive wire driven by the drive pulley so as to move a movable body. The drive pulley is formed by press working or rolling.

Abstract: A memory device stores entries waiting to be processed. Row numbers of matrix information correspond to storage positions within the memory device, column numbers correspond to positions within the order of the entries, and every matrix element corresponding to the storage position and the position within the order of the entry stored in this storage position has a predetermined value. An operation between the first vector information indicating storage positions of processable entries and each column of the matrix information is performed and the second vector information indicating positions within the order of the processable entries is generated. Then, a position to be processed is selected from among the positions of processable entries indicated by the second vector information, an element having the predetermined value in the column corresponding to the selected position is obtained, and an entry in the storage position corresponding to the element is processed.

Abstract: In a data transmitting and receiving apparatus, payloads of packets received from the first device are accumulated in a storage unit, a designated payload volume DSPS is calculated based on DSPS=TP×(1?RR/TR), where TP is a total payload volume of a packet received at a certain time point from the first device, RR is receiving rate of packets, and TR is transmitting rate of packets, and transmission is-started of the payload accumulated in the storage unit to the second device when a payload volume RPS accumulated in the storage unit has reached the designated payload volume DSPS.

Abstract: The DMA data transfer apparatus includes a memory, a communication controller, a DMA controller having a plurality of DMA engines each of which transfers data by DMA to the communication controller from the memory, and a DMA control unit. The DMA control unit determines a division size of transfer data such that the DMA engine can transfer the data, issues a data transfer directive by the DMA to the DMA controller, and controls data transfer by the DMA. The DMA control unit transmits the determination information for determination of the termination of data transfer to the communication controller. The communication controller determines the termination of data transfer based on the determination information transmitted from the DMA control unit.

Abstract: A driving-force transferring unit is extended in a predetermined direction, with a predetermined portion attached to a running unit. A driving unit changes a direction of movement of the driving-force transferring unit by rotating based on a driving force from a driving source. At least one pulley unit is rotatably attached to the case and supports the driving-force transferring unit. The pulley unit includes an outer ring member that is rotated by the driving-force transferring unit, an inner ring member that rotatably supports the outer ring member, and an engaging unit that is provided on the inner ring member, to engage with the case.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a housing having a bottom plate, a photoelectric conversion element configured to convert an optical signal of light reflected by an original document to an electrical signal, and a circuit board configured to implement a circuit controlling the signal sent from the photoelectric conversion element, wherein the bottom plate of the housing forms a portion thereof facing a lower end portion of the circuit board to protrude outwardly toward a downward direction of the bottom plate of the housing so that the lower end portion of the circuit board is accommodated therein or wherein the bottom plate of the housing includes an opening portion facing the lower end portion of the circuit board so that the lower end portion of the circuit board is protruded from the opening portion in a downward direction of the bottom plate of the housing.

Abstract: A power supply cable has a simple structure with a reduced manufacturing cost. An electric wire for supplying an electric power is held on an elongated, flexible holding sheet having an engaging part, which attaches the electric wire to the holding sheet. The holding sheet is elastically deformable so as to allow a movement of one end of the power supply cable relative to the other end thereof.

Abstract: A drive shaft, which is driven by a drive motor, is held firmly at two points by bearing structures. The bearing structure has a hole in which a bearing member is fit. The bearing member has hole, which is concentric with respect to the hole in which the bearing member is fit. A crimp, which is made of elastic material, having interfering portions that interfere with the bearing member is provided between the bearing member and the hole in the bearing structure in which the bearing member is fit.