Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a container including a frame, an auxiliary frame member provided on the frame so as to be slidable relative to the frame, and a front cover that covers a front side of the auxiliary frame member, the container being detachably supported in a body of the sheet feeding device; a cover member that covers a top side of the container when the container is attached to the body; and a locking unit that prevents the container attached to the body from being detached from the body when the container is locked and that enables the container to be detached from the body when the container is not locked.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing in which an image forming unit is to be mounted, a support that supports an image reading device in a state where the image reading device is separated from the housing, and a guiding portion in which a guide part, which is formed on a to-be-mounted surface of an add-on device in such a manner as to project, is to be inserted such that the guide part is guided by the guiding portion. Engagement holes with which engagement portions, which are formed on the to-be-mounted surface of the add-on device in such a manner as to project, are to be engaged such that the engagement portions are positioned by the engagement holes are formed in a mounting surface of the housing on which the add-on device is to be mounted.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a container including a frame, an auxiliary frame member provided on the frame so as to be slidable relative to the frame, and a front cover that covers a front side of the auxiliary frame member, the container being detachably supported in a body of the sheet feeding device; a cover member that covers a top side of the container when the container is attached to the body; and a locking unit that prevents the container attached to the body from being detached from the body when the container is locked and that enables the container to be detached from the body when the container is not locked.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing in which an image forming unit is to be mounted, a support that supports an image reading device in a state where the image reading device is separated from the housing, and a guiding portion in which a guide part, which is formed on a to-be-mounted surface of an add-on device in such a manner as to project, is to be inserted such that the guide part is guided by the guiding portion. Engagement holes with which engagement portions, which are formed on the to-be-mounted surface of the add-on device in such a manner as to project, are to be engaged such that the engagement portions are positioned by the engagement holes are formed in a mounting surface of the housing on which the add-on device is to be mounted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a support column having one end fixed to an apparatus body and the other end that turnably supports an operation unit, an opening and closing member that moves between a closed position to hide an inside of the apparatus body and an open position to expose the inside, and a lock unit that holds the operation unit at a first holding position to hold the operation unit within a moving area of the opening and closing member and a second holding position to hold the operation unit outside the moving area of the opening and closing member. The lock unit releases the operation unit in cooperation with opening of the opening and closing member in a state in which the operation unit is held at the first holding position, and moves the operation unit to the second holding position while keeping the operation unit released.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body; plural developing devices arranged in a first direction in the apparatus body; plural developer housing containers that are arranged in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and house developers to be respectively supplied to the developing devices; plural transport devices that respectively transport the developers to the developing devices from the developer housing containers; an intermediate transfer; and a transfer device. The developing devices include a first developing device located near the transfer device, and a second developing device located farther from the transfer device than the first developing device. The transport devices include first and second transport devices that respectively transports developers to the first and second developing devices. A transport distance of the developer transported the first transport is larger than that of the developer transported by the second transport device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a support column having one end fixed to an apparatus body and the other end that turnably supports an operation unit, an opening and closing member that moves between a closed position to hide an inside of the apparatus body and an open position to expose the inside, and a lock unit that holds the operation unit at a first holding position to hold the operation unit within a moving area of the opening and closing member and a second holding position to hold the operation unit outside the moving area of the opening and closing member. The lock unit releases the operation unit in cooperation with opening of the opening and closing member in a state in which the operation unit is held at the first holding position, and moves the operation unit to the second holding position while keeping the operation unit released.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus body; an openable member that is supported movably between an opening position and a closing position; a positioning portion that is provided in the image forming apparatus body; a positioned portion that is supported on the openable member and that is brought into contact with the positioning portion to be positioned when the openable member is in the closing position; a rotary member that is supported on the image forming apparatus body; and an opposed member that is supported on the openable member. When the openable member moves to the closing position, the opposed member moves in a direction crossing an opening/closing direction of the openable member and then moves in a reverse direction to the moving direction. And the opposed member is opposed to the rotary member rotatably when the openable member is in the closing position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus body; an openable member that is supported movably between an opening position and a closing position; a positioning portion that is provided in the image forming apparatus body; a positioned portion that is supported on the openable member and that is brought into contact with the positioning portion to be positioned when the openable member is in the closing position; a rotary member that is supported on the image forming apparatus body; and an opposed member that is supported on the openable member. When the openable member moves to the closing position, the opposed member moves in a direction crossing an opening/closing direction of the openable member and then moves in a reverse direction to the moving direction. And the opposed member is opposed to the rotary member rotatably when the openable member is in the closing position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body; a development device that develops a latent image formed in an image retainer with toner; a toner cartridge that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body and that contains toner supplied to the development device; and a controller that switches and controls a first print mode wherein printing is carried out in a state where the toner cartridge is not attached to the image forming apparatus main body and a second print mode wherein printing is carried out in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body; a development device that develops a latent image formed in an image retainer with toner; a toner cartridge that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body and that contains toner supplied to the development device; and a controller that switches and controls a first print mode wherein printing is carried out in a state where the toner cartridge is not attached to the image forming apparatus main body and a second print mode wherein printing is carried out in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

Abstract: A sheet supplying/feeding device includes a sheet placing plate that receives at least a tip of a sheet, a feeding unit that feeds the sheet while being in contact with the sheet placed on the sheet placing plate, and a driving unit that drives the feeding unit. Preferably, cam members are provided at both ends of a rotating shaft of the feeding unit, displacement changing members are swingably provided in engagement with the cam members, the sheet placing plate is shifted synchronously with the swing of the displacement changing members through first elastic members, and the sheet placed on the sheet placing plate and the feeding unit are contacted and separated by the synchronous movement of the sheet placing plate and the displacement changing members.

Abstract: A sheet stuff supplying/feeding device includes a sheet stuff placing plate that places at least a tip of a sheet stuff, a feeding unit that feeds the sheet stuff while being in contact with the sheet stuff placed on the sheet stuff placing plate, and a driving unit that drives the feeding unit. Preferably, cam members are provided at both ends of a rotating shaft of the feeding unit, displacement changing members are swingably provided in engagement with the cam members, the sheet stuff placing plate is shifted in synchronism with the swing of the displacement changing members through first elastic members, and the sheet stuff placed on the sheet stuff placing plate and the feeding unit are contacted and separated by the synchronism.