Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, image forming station for forming a latent image on the image bearing member, a conveying passage extending toward the image bearing member to guide a developing device, a first moving mechanism for engaging with the developing device in the conveying passage and moving it in a substantially horizontal plane, wherein the image bearing member, the latent image forming station, the conveying passage and the first moving mechanism are provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus, a device for accommodating a plurality of developing devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a developed image includes a developing device for developing an image on an image bearing member, a passage along which the developing device is movable continuously between an inside position where the developing device is inside the apparatus and an outside position where the developing device is at least partly outside the apparatus, a driver for automatically moving the developing device along the passage and one or more pressing members for pressing the developing device toward the image bearing member. The driver includes a driving source and transmission which are operative to move the developing device in response to the opening of a cover which covers an inlet to the passage.

Abstract: An automatic original feeding apparatus has a coordinates position detecting device provided with a supporting table for supporting thereon a sheet original of which the area during image formation is to be designated, a conveying device for directing the inserted sheet original to a predetermined position, and a feed device provided upstream of the conveying device and responsive to the termination of the area designation to change over to a feeding position and feed the sheet original on the supporting table to the conveying device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes sheet accommodating cassette for accommodating sheets, a device for forming images on the sheets, a first sheet conveying passage for conveying the sheet to the image forming device from the sheet accommodating cassette, a conveyor for accommodating a bundle of sheets having been subjected to an image forming operation by the image forming means at first sides thereof in a form in which leading edges of the sheets are gradually deviated in a sheet advancement direction, and for conveying the bundle as a whole, a feeder, disposed downstream of the conveyor with respect to the sheet advancement direction, for feeding one by one the sheets of the bundle from the sheet closest to the feeder, a second sheet conveying passage merging into the first passage for refeeding to the image forming device the sheets fed by the feeder, and a confining device for confining the sheets of the bundle other than the sheet being fed by the feeder.

Abstract: A double-sided image forming apparatus having first and second input devices respectively for entering function data for desired image formation functions and for entering the number of copies to be formed. A memory is provided to store the function data, and a storage compartment is provided to store sheets during duplex copying. An image forming device is arranged to operate in two procedures: a first procedure in which image formation is effected on the sheet's first side in accordance with first function data, and a second procedure in which image formation is effected on the other side in accordance with a second, different, function data. A controller controls the image forming device so that entry of number data and function data is permitted before the first procedure begins, but so that entry of only function data and not number data is permitted after completion of the first procedure.

Abstract: A multi-color image forming apparatus, for forming a superimposed multi-color image on a transfer material, includes: a latent image bearing member; device for forming a latent image on the image bearing member; plural developing devices containing different color developers for developing the latent image in different colors; device for accommodating the plural developing devices; guiding device for guiding the developing device between a first position within the accommodating device and a second position adjacent the image bearing member; driving device for moving the developing device between the first position and the second position for exchanging the developing device at the second position; device for discriminating the plural developing devices; and a second developing device disposed adjacent the image bearing member at a different position; wherein when plural colors are selected for development; a discrimination is made as to whether the developing device containing the developer of the selected c

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes accommodating assembly for accommodating a plurality of developing devices on stages arranged substantially vertically and having first driving mechanism for moving the developing devices in a substantially horizontal plane, an image formation assembly for receiving selected one of the developing devices moved out of the accommodating assembly and for further moving it in a substantially horizontal plane, the image formation assembly including systems for forming images using the developing device, the accommodating assembly further including an opening for allowing a the developing device to be loaded into the accommodating assembly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station for forming an image on a sheet; a rotatable member for transferring the sheet in a first direction toward the image forming station; supporting device for supporting the rotatable member for displacement in a second direction which crosses the first direction; driving device for displacing the rotatable member in the second direction to correct deviation of the sheet in the second direction; and inlet guide for guiding the sheet to the rotatable member, the guide being displaceable in the second direction together with the rotatable member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reproducing in different colors a plurality of image areas selected from a plurality of different originals on a single copy sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station for conveying a sheet material along a lateral reference position and for forming an image on the sheet material; refeeding device for refeeding to the image forming station the sheet material on which the image has been formed in the image forming station; means, provided in the sheet refeeding means, for shifting the sheet material in the lateral direction from the lateral reference position by a predetermined amount, wherein the amount of the shift is predetermined on the basis of a change in a lateral dimension of the sheet material resulting from an image forming operation in the image station.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of effecting plural image forming operations on one transfer sheet includes an image transfer device for transferring an image on the transfer sheet, an image magnification changing mechanism for changing the magnification of the image to be transferred onto the transfer sheet, and a control device for controlling the magnification changing mechanism in accordance with deformation of the transfer sheet caused by an image forming operation on the transfer sheet, after a first image is formed on the transfer sheet and before a second image is formed on the same transfer sheet, whereby those images are correctly registered.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device and an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet stacking device. The sheet stacking device has a sheet sorting function, and in addition, sheet re-feeding function so as to make it possible to produce a duplex copy or superimposed copy. It is further possible to use the sorter portion as a sheet feeding facility.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus and a laser beam printer, is capable of forming a superimposed image or duplex image on one sheet. The sheet which has been once subjected to the image forming operation and which is going to be subjected to another image forming operation is reintroduced into the image forming station selectively through a flow-through sheet passage or through an intermediate tray on which the transfer sheets are once stacked. A displaceable flapper is provided to direct the sheet selectively to the flow-through passage or to the intermediate tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of the developing devices for developing the latent image formed on an image bearing member. The plural developing devices are each movable between its developing position for developing the latent image on the image bearing member and its retracted position away from the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus includes a shutter for selectively opening and closing the developing aperture of the developing device of one of the developing devices. The shutter opens and closes the developing aperture of said one of the developing devices in association with movement of the other developing device between the developing position and the retracted position.

Abstract: A developing apparatus loadable with a developer container. The container having a developer of the desired color is selectively inserted into a developing apparatus and then rotated therein in a predetermined direction so that the developer container will be set in place within the developing apparatus. The developer container is detachable relative to the developing apparatus and includes a protrusion for positioning the developer container within the developing apparatus and another protrusion for discriminating the color of the developer in the selected container. The positioning protrusion is located upstream of the color discriminating protrusion in the above predetermined direction of rotation.

Abstract: A developing apparatus loadable with a selected one kind of various kinds of developer container which contain different colors of the developers, respectively. Each of the developer container has a color-discriminating projection representative of the color of the developer contained therein. The developing apparatus includes a developer container receptacle which receives the developer container and a developer container preventing portion for preventing the insertion of the developer container if the color-discriminating projection of the developer container is in abutment therewith. The projection is divided into plural portions which correspond to the respective colors of the developer and which are selectively releasable.

Abstract: In a developing device adapted to be removably mounted with respect to an image forming apparatus, there are provided protective cover members for covering and protecting a developing sleeve for developing a latent image on an image bearing member and spacer rollers for maintaining the gap between the image bearing member and the developing sleeve at a predetermined distance. Opening-closing of these protective cover members is effected in response to operation of a member such as a handle which is capable of being drawn out with respect to the developing device.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having an upper and a lower frame which are discrete from each other, first control means for holding and controlling the upper and lower frames in a partly open position smaller than the fully open position of the upper and lower frames, second control means for holding and controlling the upper and lower frames in the fully open position thereof, and third control means for holding and controlling the upper and lower frames in the fully closed position thereof.

Abstract: A double-side image forming apparatus has input unit for entering the number of desired image formation for forming images on both faces of a sheet-shaped image bearing member and a storage section for storing said image bearing member after image formation on a first face thereof. The apparatus is adapted, when the image formation on the first face of said image bearing members is interrupted before the completion of said desired number of image formations, to conduct in continuation the image formation on the second face of the image bearing members stored in said storage section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding mechanism for high-speed sheet feeding in succession at exact timing. The mechanism has output signal generating device for generating reference signals for sheet feeding, control device for releasing a rotary member from stopped state in response to the reference signal, an eccentric cam driven by the rotary member when it is in the rotation state and a rocking member to be driven by the eccentric cam, an end portion of rocking member for stopping the sheet material being positioned at the upstream or downstream side of constantly rotated members such as paired rollers in the sheet feed path to control the sheet feed timing by the rocking motion of said end portion of the rocking member.