Abstract: An articulated robotic device includes a robotic hand device, an end effector device, an output section, and a controller. The robotic hand device includes arms coupled to each other. The end effector device is connected to the robotic hand device. The output section outputs a signal indicating a magnitude of an external force applied to the end effector device and a direction of the external force. The controller controls movement of the robotic hand device according to the magnitude and the direction of the external force. Moreover, the controller performs posture fixing control by controlling the movement of the robotic hand device so that a posture of the end effector device is fixed in a specific posture during direct teaching of the articulated robotic device by an operator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing portion, a driving-side shaft coupling, a movement supporting mechanism, a movement member, a separating member, and a displacement member. The developing portion includes a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image-carrying member, and a driven-side shaft coupling that is provided on the developing roller. The driving-side shaft coupling transmits driving force, via the driven-side shaft coupling, to the developing roller. The movement supporting mechanism movably supports the developing roller between a developing position and a separated position. The displacement member applies a force to the movement supporting mechanism, and positions the developing roller at the developing position. When the movement member moves further after the driven-side shaft coupling has separated from the driving-side shaft coupling, the displacement member moves the developing roller from the developing position to the separated position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing portion, a driving-side shaft coupling, a movement supporting mechanism, a movement member, a separating member, and a displacement member. The developing portion includes a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image-carrying member, and a driven-side shaft coupling that is provided on the developing roller. The driving-side shaft coupling transmits driving force, via the driven-side shaft coupling, to the developing roller. The movement supporting mechanism movably supports the developing roller between a developing position and a separated position. The displacement member applies a force to the movement supporting mechanism, and positions the developing roller at the developing position. When the movement member moves further after the driven-side shaft coupling has separated from the driving-side shaft coupling, the displacement member moves the developing roller from the developing position to the separated position.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a rotator, a transmitter and a shutter. The case main body has a discharge port through which a toner is discharged. The rotator is stored in the case main body and rotates around a rotation axis. The transmitter transmits rotation to the rotator. At least a part of the transmitter is exposed to an outside of the case main body. The shutter is rotatable between a closing position where the shutter closes the discharge port and an opening position where the shutter opens the discharge port. The transmitter is movable between a first position and a second position which is arranged at an outside of the first position in a rotation axis direction of the rotator. The transmitter moves from the first position to the second position as the shutter rotates from the closing position to the opening position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner case and an attachment part. The toner case includes a discharge shutter movable between a first closing position where a discharge port is closed and a first opening position where the discharge port is opened. The attachment part includes a replenishment shutter movable between a second closing position where a replenishment port is closed and a second opening position where the replenishment port is opened. As the discharge shutter moves from the first closing position to the first opening position, the discharge shutter presses the replenishment shutter to move the replenishment shutter from the second closing position to the second opening position. As the discharge shutter moves from the first opening position to the first closing position, the discharge shutter presses the replenishment shutter to move the replenishment shutter from the second opening position to the second closing position.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a rotator, a transmitter and a turner. The rotator is stored in the case main body and rotates around a rotation axis. The transmitter transmits rotation to the rotator. A part of the transmitter is exposed to an outside of the case main body. The turner is provided at an outside of the case main body in a rotation axis direction. The turner is turnable between a first posture and a second posture. At least a part of the turner is moved to an outside in the rotation axis direction as the turner turns from the first posture to the second posture. The transmitter moves from a first position to a second position which is arranged at an outside of the first position in the rotation axis direction as the turner turns from the first posture to the second posture.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit attachable/detachable at a predetermined position of an apparatus body. The imaging unit includes a locking member and a cover member. The locking member is configured so as to move between a lock position engaging with the apparatus body when the imaging unit is attached to the predetermined position and a lock release position releasing engaging with the apparatus body. The cover member is attached to/detached from the imaging unit in a first direction. The cover member has a connecting part making possible to be attached to the imaging unit in a second direction. When the cover member is attached to the imaging unit in the second direction, the connecting part moves the locking member from the lock position to the lock release position and the imaging unit becomes a state capable of being detached from the predetermined position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner case and an attachment part. The toner case includes a discharge shutter movable between a first closing position where a discharge port is closed and a first opening position where the discharge port is opened. The attachment part includes a replenishment shutter movable between a second closing position where a replenishment port is closed and a second opening position where the replenishment port is opened. As the discharge shutter moves from the first closing position to the first opening position, the discharge shutter presses the replenishment shutter to move the replenishment shutter from the second closing position to the second opening position. As the discharge shutter moves from the first opening position to the first closing position, the discharge shutter presses the replenishment shutter to move the replenishment shutter from the second opening position to the second closing position.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a rotator, a transmitter and a shutter. The case main body has a discharge port through which a toner is discharged. The rotator is stored in the case main body and rotates around a rotation axis. The transmitter transmits rotation to the rotator. At least a part of the transmitter is exposed to an outside of the case main body. The shutter is rotatable between a closing position where the shutter closes the discharge port and an opening position where the shutter opens the discharge port. The transmitter is movable between a first position and a second position which is arranged at an outside of the first position in a rotation axis direction of the rotator. The transmitter moves from the first position to the second position as the shutter rotates from the closing position to the opening position.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a rotator, a transmitter and a turner. The rotator is stored in the case main body and rotates around a rotation axis. The transmitter transmits rotation to the rotator. A part of the transmitter is exposed to an outside of the case main body. The turner is provided at an outside of the case main body in a rotation axis direction. The turner is turnable between a first posture and a second posture. At least a part of the turner is moved to an outside in the rotation axis direction as the turner turns from the first posture to the second posture. The transmitter moves from a first position to a second position which is arranged at an outside of the first position in the rotation axis direction as the turner turns from the first posture to the second posture.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit attachable/detachable at a predetermined position of an apparatus body. The imaging unit includes a locking member and a cover member. The locking member is configured so as to move between a lock position engaging with the apparatus body when the imaging unit is attached to the predetermined position and a lock release position releasing engaging with the apparatus body. The cover member is attached to/detached from the imaging unit in a first direction. The cover member has a connecting part making possible to be attached to the imaging unit in a second direction. When the cover member is attached to the imaging unit in the second direction, the connecting part moves the locking member from the lock position to the lock release position and the imaging unit becomes a state capable of being detached from the predetermined position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a separation plate, an arm member, an axial member, a support bracket, and a temperature sensor. The separation plate is disposed spaced apart from a peripheral surface of a heating rotating body by a predetermined clearance distance K2. The separation plate separates a recording medium having passed through between the heating rotating body and a pressing roller from the heating rotating body. The arm member holds the temperature sensor by using one end portion thereof. The axial member extends in parallel to a rotating shaft of the heating rotating body and rotatably supports the other end portion of the arm member. The support bracket supports the separation plate. The support bracket is provided with a sensor abutting portion that abuts the temperature sensor held by the arm member to restrict a clearance distance between the temperature sensor and the heating rotating body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body, a document reading unit, a document cover, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, a reading-unit-supporting shaft, and a cover-supporting shaft. The document reading unit is configured to turn to openably/closably cover an upper portion of the image forming apparatus body. The document cover is configured to turn to openably/closably cover a document loading surface at a top surface of the document reading unit. The image forming unit is housed in the image forming apparatus body, the image forming unit being configured to form an image on a paper sheet based on the image data. The reading-unit-supporting shaft is configured to pivotably support the document reading unit. The cover-supporting shaft is configured to pivotably support the document cover. Both the reading-unit-supporting shaft and the cover-supporting shaft are mounted to the image forming apparatus body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a separation plate, an arm member, an axial member, a support bracket, and a temperature sensor. The separation plate is disposed spaced apart from a peripheral surface of a heating rotating body by a predetermined clearance distance K2. The separation plate separates a recording medium having passed through between the heating rotating body and a pressing roller from the heating rotating body. The arm member holds the temperature sensor by using one end portion thereof. The axial member extends in parallel to a rotating shaft of the heating rotating body and rotatably supports the other end portion of the arm member. The support bracket supports the separation plate. The support bracket is provided with a sensor abutting portion that abuts the temperature sensor held by the arm member to restrict a clearance distance between the temperature sensor and the heating rotating body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes first and second rollers, a pressure adjustment mechanism, a drive input gear, a ratchet mechanism, and a transmission mechanism. The pressure adjustment mechanism changes a pressing posture of the first and second rollers. The drive input gear device receives a torque of a first rotational direction around an axis of the gear device and another toque of a second rotational direction. The ratchet mechanism, when the drive input gear device receives the torque of the first rotational direction, transmits the torque to the first roller, and in the case of the torque of the second rotational direction, suspends a torque transmission. When the drive input gear device receives the torque of the second rotational direction, the transmission mechanism exerts a driving force to the pressure adjustment mechanism. The drive input gear device includes a housing portion housing a part of the ratchet mechanism.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, an attachment member and a conveying member. The case main body has a discharge port configured to discharge a toner. The attachment member is provided at the case main body to be rotatable in normal and reverse rotation directions around a rotation axis. The conveying member is rotatable in the normal and reverse rotation direction around the rotation axis to convey the toner from/to the inside of the case main body to/from a side of the discharge port. When the attachment member is reversely rotated, the conveying member is moved in a direction of the rotation axis between a first position in which the conveying member is reversely rotated together with the attachment member and a second position in which the attachment member runs idle.

Abstract: A fixing device includes first and second rollers, a pressure adjustment mechanism, a drive input gear, a ratchet mechanism, and a transmission mechanism. The pressure adjustment mechanism changes a pressing posture of the first and second rollers. The drive input gear device receives a torque of a first rotational direction around an axis of the gear device and another toque of a second rotational direction. The ratchet mechanism, when the drive input gear device receives the torque of the first rotational direction, transmits the torque to the first roller, and in the case of the torque of the second rotational direction, suspends a torque transmission. When the drive input gear device receives the torque of the second rotational direction, the transmission mechanism exerts a driving force to the pressure adjustment mechanism. The drive input gear device includes a housing portion housing a part of the ratchet mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body, a document reading unit, a document cover, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, a reading-unit-supporting shaft, and a cover-supporting shaft. The document reading unit is configured to turn to openably/closably cover an upper portion of the image forming apparatus body. The document cover is configured to turn to openably/closably cover a document loading surface at a top surface of the document reading unit. The image forming unit is housed in the image forming apparatus body, the image forming unit being configured to form an image on a paper sheet based on the image data. The reading-unit-supporting shaft is configured to pivotably support the document reading unit. The cover-supporting shaft is configured to pivotably support the document cover. Both the reading-unit-supporting shaft and the cover-supporting shaft are mounted to the image forming apparatus body.

Abstract: A sheet feed device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an apparatus body, a cassette, a sheet conveying path, a pickup roller, a feeding portion, a lift plate, and a regulation member. Feeding portion conveys sheet fed from pickup roller downstream in sheet conveying direction while holding sheet at nip portion. Lift plate is changeable in position between first position and second position. When cassette is removed from apparatus body and lift plate is positioned in first position, regulation member protrudes to sheet conveying path on upstream side in sheet conveying direction relative to nip portion to thereby regulate entering of sheet stored in sheet storage portion into nip portion. When cassette is mounted into apparatus body and lift plate is positioned in second position, regulation member retreats from sheet conveying path thereby to cause sheet conveying path to become open.

Abstract: A sheet feed device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an apparatus body, a cassette, a sheet conveying path, a pickup roller, a feeding portion, a lift plate, and a regulation member. Feeding portion conveys sheet fed from pickup roller downstream in sheet conveying direction while holding sheet at nip portion. Lift plate is changeable in position between first position and second position. When cassette is removed from apparatus body and lift plate is positioned in first position, regulation member protrudes to sheet conveying path on upstream side in sheet conveying direction relative to nip portion to thereby regulate entering of sheet stored in sheet storage portion into nip portion. When cassette is mounted into apparatus body and lift plate is positioned in second position, regulation member retreats from sheet conveying path thereby to cause sheet conveying path to become open.