Abstract: An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image formed on a photoconductor drum onto a sheet-like recording member while the sheet-like recording member is transported and attracted to a transfer belt, and comprises a jam handling control unit for detecting a transport fault of the sheet-like recording member, and for stopping the transport operation when the transport fault is detected. When the transport fault is detected in a section other than a fixing section, the jam handling control unit first causes the transport operation of the fixing section, and thereafter causes the transfer belt and the transport operation on the upstream side thereof to stop, and any sheet-like recording member remaining on the transfer belt so that the transport mechanism on the upstream side thereof is transported and stopped at the position spanning between the area of the fixing section and the area of the transfer belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a feeding roller for feeding a belt-shaped cleaning member which has been rolled up, and a winding roller for taking up the cleaning member which has been fed from the feeding roller and cleaned a surface of the fixing roller, the winding roller being provided so as to pressure-contact the feeding roller. The winding roller is rotated by a time control due to a control portion so that a sum of a feed amount of the cleaning member which is fed by the feeding roller at one feeding occasion, and a take-up amount of the cleaning member which is taken up by the winding roller at one take-up occasion, is equal to or more than a double of a length Ln of a nip section.

Abstract: In the present applying mechanism, a part of a guide sheet 33 bulges (arches) away from an oil application roller 16, with respect to a vertical line S passing through the center of a pipe 31. In other words, in the present applying mechanism, a part of the guide sheet 33 has a shape of avoiding (bypassing) the oil application roller 16 that has a high temperature. With this, oil flowing on the guide sheet 33 is kept away from the high-temperature oil application roller 16. On this account, it is possible to restrain the degradation of the oil flowing on the guide sheet 33 on account of the heat from the application roller.

Abstract: In an image forming system in which a main body apparatus that forms an image and a plurality of optional apparatuses that can be retrofitted to the main body apparatus are combined, so that a sheet of recording material bearing on one side an image formed in an image forming section in the main body apparatus is switched back and then transported again to the image forming section, thereby allowing images to be formed on both the main and back sides of the sheet of recording material, of the plurality of optional apparatuses to be retrofitted to the main body apparatus, a specific optional apparatus is provided with a sheet receiving section for supporting the sheet of recording material to be switched back, at a portion opposite to the main body apparatus.

Abstract: A developer storage device includes a storage container which supplies developer to a developing unit when rotated, and a collecting container for storing developer collected from an image forming section. The developer storage device further includes a first attaching and detaching portion allowing the storage container to be attached to and detached from a developer storage device body, and a second attaching and detaching portion allowing the collecting container to be attached to and detached from the developer storage device body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image formed on a photoconductor drum onto a sheet-like recording member while the sheet-like recording member is transported and attracted to a transfer belt, and comprises a jam handling control unit for detecting a transport fault of the sheet-like recording member, and for stopping the transport operation when the transport fault is detected. When the transport fault is detected in a section other than a fixing section, the jam handling control unit first causes the transport operation of the fixing section, and thereafter causes the transfer belt and the transport operation on the upstream side thereof to stop, and any sheet-like recording member remaining on the transfer belt so that the transport mechanism on the upstream side thereof is transported and stopped at the position spanning between the area of the fixing section and the area of the transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image formed on a photoconductor drum onto a sheet-like recording member while the sheet-like recording member is transported and attracted to a transfer belt, and comprises a jam handling control unit for detecting a transport fault of the sheet-like recording member, and for stopping the transport operation when the transport fault is detected. When the transport fault is detected in a section other than a fixing section, the jam handling control unit first causes the transport operation of the fixing section, and thereafter causes the transfer belt and the transport operation on the upstream side thereof to stop, and any sheet-like recording member remaining on the transfer belt so that the transport mechanism on the upstream side thereof is transported and stopped at the position spanning between the area of the fixing section and the area of the transfer belt.

Abstract: A base plate detachably supports a functional unit all the way between an exposed position where the functional unit is separated from a connector and drawn out of a housing of an image forming apparatus such that the functional unit is exposed to the exterior of the housing and an accommodated position where the functional unit is fitted in the housing and connected to the connector. A biasing member biases a threaded shaft of an operating device through the base plate such that a far end of the threaded shaft is directed toward a threaded hole formed in the bottom of the functional unit. The operating device is hidden inside the housing of the apparatus when the base plate is set to the accommodated position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, determining in sorting recording sheets whether or not recording sheet transport interval is shorter than a first predetermined value, sets the longest time settable as a delay time when the interval is longer than the first value. When the interval is shorter than the first value, the apparatus, determining whether or not the interval is shorter than a second predetermined value, sets the shortest delay time settable when the interval is shorter than the second value, and sets a reference delay time when the interval is longer than the second value. The apparatus prevents sheet jam before a sheet eject mechanism by ensuring that the mechanism returns to an initial position before the front end of a following sheet reaches sheet eject rollers after the rear end of a preceding sheet passes through the rollers.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the present invention is provided with (i) a roller, to which releaser gets applied (ii) a releaser applying member for applying the releaser on the roller by touching the roller while the roller is rotating, and (iii) a releaser dripping section for dripping the releaser to be applied on the roller by the releaser applying section, the fixing apparatus further including a guiding member for receiving the releaser dripped from the releaser dripping section, and for guiding, along a surface thereof, a certain amount of a total amount of the thus received releaser to a touch position at which the releaser applying member touches the roller.

Abstract: A base plate detachably supports a functional unit all the way between an exposed position where the functional unit is separated from a connector and drawn out of a housing of an image forming apparatus such that the functional unit is exposed to the exterior of the housing and an accommodated position where the functional unit is fitted in the housing and connected to the connector. A biasing member biases a threaded shaft of an operating device through the base plate such that a far end of the threaded shaft is directed toward a threaded hole formed in the bottom of the functional unit. The operating device is hidden inside the housing of the apparatus when the base plate is set to the accommodated position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus transfers a toner image formed on a photoconductor drum onto a sheet-like recording member while the sheet-like recording member is transported and attracted to a transfer belt, and comprises a jam handling control unit for detecting a transport fault of the sheet-like recording member, and for stopping the transport operation when the transport fault is detected. When the transport fault is detected in a section other than a fixing section, the jam handling control unit first causes the transport operation of the fixing section, and thereafter causes the transfer belt and the transport operation on the upstream side thereof to stop, and any sheet-like recording member remaining on the transfer belt so that the transport mechanism on the upstream side thereof is transported and stopped at the position spanning between the area of the fixing section and the area of the transfer belt.

Abstract: In an image forming system in which a main body apparatus that forms an image and a plurality of optional apparatuses that can be retrofitted to the main body apparatus are combined, so that a sheet of recording material bearing on one side an image formed in an image forming section in the main body apparatus is switched back and then transported again to the image forming section, thereby allowing images to be formed on both the main and back sides of the sheet of recording material, of the plurality of optional apparatuses to be retrofitted to the main body apparatus, a specific optional apparatus is provided with a sheet receiving section for supporting the sheet of recording material to be switched back, at a portion opposite to the main body apparatus.

Abstract: An armored unit includes a side cover and a guide member. When sheet jam operation is carried out, a fixing unit is pulled out with the armored unit, and then is pushed to the rear side. This operation unlocks the lock member provided in the guide member, and a shoulder screw moves in a guide hole. Thus, the fixing unit is moved from the pulled out position toward the rear side and toward the main body of image forming device to be shifted to a receding position. On this account, it is possible to provide an image forming device ensuring sufficient space for removing a jammed sheet by hand with a small opening space.

Abstract: An offset preventing liquid supplying device is provided for supplying offset preventing liquid to a heat roller of a toner image fixing device for fixing a toner image developed on a recording material by heating with the heat roller. The offset preventing liquid supplying device includes a storage tank for storing offset preventing liquid, a liquid applying mechanism for applying offset preventing liquid onto a cylindrical surface of the heat roller and a pump for supplying the offset preventing liquid to the liquid applying mechanism. The liquid applying mechanism has a series of offset preventing liquid supplying ports provided from an upstream side to a downstream side thereof in an offset preventing liquid supplying direction and an upstream side liquid supplying port is open at an upper position and a downstream side liquid supplying port is open at a lower portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a silicone oil supplying system of a toner image fixing device, which is capable of uniformly applying offset preventing liquid onto a working surface of an upper fixing roller over its full length even if the fixing device of the copier is used in the tilted state. Also disclosed is an image forming device provided with the same silicone oil supplying system. The silicone oil supplying system for applying silicone oil onto a working surface of the upper fixing roller is provided with an oil tank for storing silicone oil, an oil applying device for applying the silicone oil to the surface of the upper fixing roller and a pump for supplying silicone oil from the oil tank to the oil applying device. The oil applying device is provided with a supplying pipe for downwardly supplying silicone oil in the form of droplets onto a working surface of an oil applying roller.

Abstract: A vacuum high-speed feeding apparatus equipped structure for moving suction nozzles attached to a cylindrical body towards sheet feeding rollers. The application of suction force is suspended upon detection that a drawn sheet has been caught and its conveyance has been stated by feeding rollers. This is done by detection of a leading edge of the sheet by a first sensor. The cylindrical body is restored to its home position when feeding of the sheet by a given distance is detected by a second sensor. The suction force is again applied when passage of the rear edge of the sheet through the feeding rollers is detected by the first sensor.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus is provided with a discharge tray which can be selectively moved between a processing mode position corresponding to a processing mode and a non-processing mode position corresponding to a non-processing mode. The apparatus is also provided with a control device which controls a tray drive unit which drives so as to set the discharge tray in the processing mode position when the processing mode is selected, while in the non-processing mode position when the non-processing mode is selected. The apparatus offers an improved discharging efficiency of processed sheets from a processing tray to the discharge tray in the processing mode and an improved aligning facility of sheets discharged on the discharge tray in the non-processing mode.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus is arranged such that in the non-staple mode, the leading edges of the sheets transported from the transport rollers are directed so as to be sandwiched between the upper and lower discharge rollers by a movable sheet guide in a non-staple mode position and the sheets are discharged onto a stacking tray through the upper and lower discharge rollers. In the staple mode, the leading edges of the sheets is directed to a discharge opening formed between the upper discharge roller and the movable sheet guide by the movable sheet guide in the staple mode position so as to be dropped onto the staple tray. After being processed by the stapler, the sheets are pushed by a pushing member through the discharge opening onto the stacking tray.