Abstract: A chute is located between a transfer roller and a fuser in a direction crossing both a first direction along a drum axis direction and a second direction crossing the first direction. The chute causes a sheet having passed through a transfer nip to be directed toward a fixing nip. The chute is movable in the second direction between a first position and a second position shifted from the first position toward one side in the second direction. The chute located at the second position is farther away from an imaginary plane passing through the nips than the chute located at the first position. A reciprocating mechanism is located on an other side of the chute in the second direction. The reciprocating mechanism reciprocates by drive force from the drive source and presses the chute to move between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a light source including a plurality of light emitters each to emit a laser beam and an emission surface through which the laser beam is emittable from each of the plurality of light emitters, and a liquid crystal panel on the emission surface to control an amount of the laser beam incident through the emission surface to be transmitted for display. Each of the plurality of light emitters emits the laser beam at an incident polarization angle on the liquid crystal panel maximizing a transmittance of the laser beam through the liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a cover movable between a closed position and an open position; a fixing unit including a heating member and a pressure roller configured to form a nipping region therebetween; an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a nipping pressure between the heating member and the pressure roller in conjunction with movement of the cover; and a link mechanism connected to both the adjustment mechanism and the cover. The adjustment mechanism includes an arm pressing the heating member such that the heating member and the pressure roller form the nipping region. The link mechanism includes: a first link connected to the cover; a second link connected to the first link and pivotally movable about an axis extending in a width direction; and a third link connected to both the second link and the adjustment mechanism. The third link is movable in a front-rear direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet tray, a feed roller, a sheet feed frame, a contact element, a guide frame, a photosensor, a shield, and a linkage. The feed roller feeds a sheet on the sheet tray. The sheet feed frame holds the feed roller. The contact element is pivotable relative to the sheet feed frame. The guide frame is disposed below the sheet feed frame. The photosensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The shield is movable between a light transmission position and a light shield position. The linkage connects the contact element and the shield such that the shield is movable as the contact element pivots. The light receiver receives the light emitted from the light emitter when the shield is at the light transmission position. The shield at the light shield position shields the light receiver from the light emitted from the light emitter.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a separation roller, a retard roller, and a return latch. The separation roller rotates in a forward direction to separate a sheet and transport the separated sheet in a sheet transport direction. The retard roller forms, together with the separation roller, a nip point and rotates in a reverse direction to return a sheet in a direction opposite to the sheet transport direction. The return latch moves from a retracted position to a protruding position to return a sheet remaining after separation by the separation roller to a position upstream of the nip point in the sheet transport direction. The return latch, when at the retracted position, is retracted from a sheet transport path and, when at the protruding position, protrudes to the sheet transport path.

Abstract: An optical device actuator comprises a movable frame (33) including a focus lens (L11); a main shaft guide (40); a piezoelectric element (36a); a weight (36b); a fixed frame (30); a guide holding frame (35); and a spring (36c). The piezoelectric element (36a) imparts vibration to a first end (40a) side of the main shaft guide (40). The fixed frame (30) supports the piezoelectric element (36a) and the weight (36b) disposed on the first end (40a) side of the main shaft guide (40). The guide holding frame (35) supports, in a fixed state, the main shaft guide (40) on a second end (40b) side on the opposite side from the first end (40a) side. The spring (36c) is provided on the first end (40a) side of the main shaft guide (40), and presses the piezoelectric element (36a) along the axial direction with respect to the first end (40a) of the main shaft guide (40) via the weight (36b).

Abstract: A lens barrel includes: a first lens holding frame; a fixed barrel holding the first lens holding frame and including an elongated window provided radially; and a first step-type eccentric roller rotatably fixed to the first lens holding frame. The first step-type eccentric roller includes usable and non-usable regions on a periphery substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis, a distance from a center of the rotation axis to any point within any one of the usable regions is constant, and the distance is different for each of the usable regions, and the first step-type eccentric roller is fixed to the first lens holding frame by rotating the first step-type eccentric roller about the rotation axis, changing an engagement position between one of the usable regions and a side forming the polygonal shape of the elongated window, and moving the lens group parallel to an optical axis to perform shift adjustment.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, an image forming unit movable between an accommodated position and a shifted position, an actuator, an urging member, a cam, and a contact portion. The actuator includes a pivot shaft and a protrusion protruding therefrom. The protrusion at a standby position crosses a conveyance path and is contactable with a sheet conveyed along the conveyance path. When the image forming unit is at the accommodated position, the contact portion and the cam contact each other and maintain the protrusion at the standby position against an urging force of the urging member. As the image forming unit moves from the accommodated position to the shifted position, the contact portion and the cam move away from each other such that the protrusion pivots from the standby position, by the urging force, to a retracted position at which the protrusion is retracted from the conveyance path.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes: a first ring; a second ring that switches between a first position and a second position by sliding in an optical axis direction; a plurality of biasing mechanisms that are provided on one of the first ring and the second ring, and providing adjustable biasing force in a radial direction; and a locking portion provided on the other of the first ring and the second ring on which the plurality of biasing mechanisms are not provided. The plurality of biasing mechanisms each include an elastic component having a contact portion and a biasing component that biases the elastic component. The first ring and the second ring are integrally rotatable when the contact portion contacts the locking portion which opposes the contact portion when the second ring is at the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a second conveyance guide diverging from a first conveyance guide at a bifurcation and joining the first conveyance guide at a junction, the bifurcation being downstream of a first position of an image former in a conveyance direction, the junction being upstream of the first position in the conveyance direction, first and second sensors disposed in second and third positions between the junction and the first position along the first conveyance guide, respectively, and a controller that, when a sheet passes through the second and third positions for a second time, detects a surface characteristic of a side of the sheet by the first sensor and determines an image forming condition for the side based on the surface characteristic of the side and a basis weight detected by the second sensor when the sheet passed through the second and third positions for a first time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a re-conveyor. The re-conveyor includes a first bevel gear, a second bevel gear, a first re-conveying roller, a shaft member, a first engaged member, a second engaged member, and an engaging member. When the second bevel gear is rotated in a rotational direction by a driving force transmitted from the first bevel gear, the engaging member is moved to a second position and engaged with the first and second engaged members to rotate the shaft member in a rotational direction. When the shaft member is rotated in the rotational direction by a driving force transmitted from the first re-conveying roller, the engaging member is moved to a first position, disengaged from the second engaged member, and engaged with the first engaged member to interrupt transmission of the driving force from the shaft member to the second bevel gear.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a separation roller, a retard roller, and a return latch. The separation roller rotates in a forward direction to separate a sheet and transport the separated sheet in a sheet transport direction. The retard roller forms, together with the separation roller, a nip point and rotates in a reverse direction to return a sheet in a direction opposite to the sheet transport direction. The return latch moves from a retracted position to a protruding position to return a sheet remaining after separation by the separation roller to a position upstream of the nip point in the sheet transport direction. The return latch, when at the retracted position, is retracted from a sheet transport path and, when at the protruding position, protrudes to the sheet transport path.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet tray, a feed roller, a sheet feed frame, a contact element, a guide frame, a photosensor, a shield, and a linkage. The feed roller feeds a sheet on the sheet tray. The sheet feed frame holds the feed roller. The contact element is pivotable relative to the sheet feed frame. The guide frame is disposed below the sheet feed frame. The photosensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The shield is movable between a light transmission position and a light shield position. The linkage connects the contact element and the shield such that the shield is movable as the contact element pivots. The light receiver receives the light emitted from the light emitter when the shield is at the light transmission position. The shield at the light shield position shields the light receiver from the light emitted from the light emitter.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes: a first ring; a second ring that switches between a first position and a second position by sliding in an optical axis direction; a plurality of biasing mechanisms that are provided on one of the first ring and the second ring, and providing adjustable biasing force in a radial direction; and a locking portion provided on the other of the first ring and the second ring on which the plurality of biasing mechanisms are not provided. The plurality of biasing mechanisms each include an elastic component having a contact portion and a biasing component that biases the elastic component. The first ring and the second ring are integrally rotatable when the contact portion contacts the locking portion which opposes the contact portion when the second ring is at the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, an image forming unit movable between an accommodated position and a shifted position, an actuator, an urging member, a cam, and a contact portion. The actuator includes a pivot shaft and a protrusion protruding therefrom. The protrusion at a standby position crosses a conveyance path and is contactable with a sheet conveyed along the conveyance path. When the image forming unit is at the accommodated position, the contact portion and the cam contact each other and maintain the protrusion at the standby position against an urging force of the urging member. As the image forming unit moves from the accommodated position to the shifted position, the contact portion and the cam move away from each other such that the protrusion pivots from the standby position, by the urging force, to a retracted position at which the protrusion is retracted from the conveyance path.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a tip member, a lens hood, and a sliding member. The tip member is disposed on a subject side in an optical axis direction, and includes an optical system. The lens hood moves between a storage position and a use position in the optical axis direction. The sliding member is provided on an inner circumferential surface side of the lens hood. When the lens hood moves from the storage position to the use position, the sliding member moves to the subject side in the optical axis direction in a state where the sliding member is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the tip member. In a state where the lens hood is located at the storage position, an interval of at least a portion of a clearance formed between the inner circumferential surface of the lens hood and the outer circumferential surface of the tip member is narrowed toward the subject side in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a re-conveyor. The re-conveyor includes a first bevel gear, a second bevel gear, a first re-conveying roller, a shaft member, a first engaged member, a second engaged member, and an engaging member. When the second bevel gear is rotated in a rotational direction by a driving force transmitted from the first bevel gear, the engaging member is moved to a second position and engaged with the first and second engaged members to rotate the shaft member in a rotational direction. When the shaft member is rotated in the rotational direction by a driving force transmitted from the first re-conveying roller, the engaging member is moved to a first position, disengaged from the second engaged member, and engaged with the first engaged member to interrupt transmission of the driving force from the shaft member to the second bevel gear.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer to shift a sheet at one side of the sheet conveyer in a widthwise direction is provided. The sheet conveyer includes a pair of rollers, a regulative guide arranged at a position closer to the one side than the pair of rollers in the widthwise direction, a first guide arranged at a position upstream from the pair of rollers with regard to a conveying direction to contact a first area on a first face of the sheet at a position closer to the one side in the widthwise direction than a widthwise center of the sheet, and a second guide arranged at a position upstream from the pair of rollers with regard to the conveying direction to contact a second area on a second face of the sheet. The second guide partly overlaps the first guide in a direction of height.

Abstract: A lens barrel is detachably attached to a camera body, and includes an exterior unit, a rear frame, a tripod mount, and a tripod lock screw. The exterior unit includes an optical system. The rear frame is mounted to the exterior unit so as to be rotatable around an optical axis. An outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel is configured with the exterior unit and the rear frame. The tripod mount is provided on the rear frame to be fixed to a tripod. The tripod lock screw fixes a rotational position around the optical axis of the rear frame to the camera body at a predetermined rotational position, in a state in which the lens barrel is mounted to the camera body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a second conveyance guide diverging from a first conveyance guide at a bifurcation and joining the first conveyance guide at a junction, the bifurcation being downstream of a first position of an image former in a conveyance direction, the junction being upstream of the first position in the conveyance direction, first and second sensors disposed in second and third positions between the junction and the first position along the first conveyance guide, respectively, and a controller that, when a sheet passes through the second and third positions for a second time, detects a surface characteristic of a side of the sheet by the first sensor and determines an image forming condition for the side based on the surface characteristic of the side and a basis weight detected by the second sensor when the sheet passed through the second and third positions for a first time.