Abstract: To provide a fusing unit including a fusing roller for fixing an unfixed toner image to a sheet and a fusing roller cleaning unit including a web sheet delivering roller for supplying a web sheet and a winding roller for taking up the web sheet for cleaning the fusing roller, the fusing roller cleaning unit includes a web detecting terminal for detecting the presence of the web sheet and a tension roller for guiding the web sheet, on the upstream side of a pressure roller with respect to the web sheet's direction of conveyance and first and second guide rollers, the second guide roller being disposed upstream of the web detecting terminal.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a heat roller and a fixing gear for rotating the heat roller are arranged concentrically, and coupled to each other by inserting a key formed in the fixing gear into a keyway formed in the heat roller. The keyway is designed such that the key is allowed to move along a direction in which the heat roller is rotated. For example, the keyway is formed by notching a free end of a one-side rotary shaft of the heat roller so as to extend along the direction in which the heat roller is rotated.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a sheet transport apparatus is provided with a registration roller, a sheet transport path, a first optical sensor, a second sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet at an upstream side of the first optical sensor in a sheet transportation direction Xd, and a sheet transportation control unit that stops the driving of the registration roller after an elapse of a transportation time after the detection of sheet absence following sheet presence by the first optical sensor, wherein the sheet transportation control unit does not perform control with sheet detection by the first optical sensor within a detection restricted time after predetermined sheet detection by the second sensor when the sheet is of a specific type.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes first and second sheet sensors provided in order from upstream to downstream sides in feeding direction on a paper feed path, sheet conveyor roller sets arranged along the path, and a roller controller individually controlling groups of rollers on the upstream and downstream sides of the first sheet sensor, in response to a change in values of output signals from first and second sheet sensors. The roller controller includes an overlapped feeding determining device outputting a determination signal assuming a first value when overlapped feeding occurs and a second value otherwise, in response to the change in values of the output signals from the sensors, an overlapped feeding eliminating device eliminating overlapped feeding by controlling the roller controller upon receiving the determination signal of the first value, and a conveyor roller stopping device stopping the sheet conveyor rollers if the overlapped feeding eliminating process should fail.

Abstract: A conveying device includes a switching gate, a handle, and a link mechanism. The switching gate switches the direction in which a sheet of paper is conveyed along a conveying path. Normally, the weight of the switching gate keeps a front end portion of the gate engaging with a recess. A user grips the handle when he/she opens the conveying device from an apparatus. The user's grip on the handle makes the link mechanism disengage the gate portion from the recess. The link mechanism includes a protrusion protruding toward the apparatus and having a slope, which tapers off. When the conveying device closes into the apparatus, compressive contact of the protrusion slope with a wall of the apparatus disengages the gate portion from the recess.

Abstract: A feeding device according to the present invention includes a box, paper holders, and a shifting mechanism. The box is open at its top. The paper holders are open at their tops and positioned in the box. Each of the paper holders holds a pile of sheets of paper in it. The shifting mechanism so shifts at least one of the paper holders that the top sheet in one of the paper holders is positioned in a single feed position in the box according to selection data output from the apparatus with which the feeding device is used.

Abstract: Mechanism unit(s) functioning as automatic-feed cassette(s) and mechanism unit(s) functioning as manual-feed tray(s) together form a single integral module, constituting a hybrid paper supply module. A plurality of hybrid paper supply modules are stacked together to constitute a paper supply mechanism. Manual-feed tray(s) with which manual-feed mechanism unit(s) of respective hybrid paper supply module(s) is or are provided is or are maintained in stored state(s) as a result of electromagnetic attraction produced by electromagnet(s). In correspondence to image forming condition(s), electromagnetic attraction at one electromagnet is terminated, causing manual-feed tray(s) to assume deployed state(s). Furthermore, primary path(s) passing vertically through module interior(s) is or are formed so as to permit transport of recording paper toward printing unit(s) of hybrid device(s) regardless of from which hybrid paper supply module(s) it is that recording paper is taken up.

Abstract: As one embodiment, a paper feeding device is provided with a pickup roller for pulling out an uppermost positioned sheet of loaded sheets, and a paper feeding roller for transporting the sheet pulled out by the pickup roller. Spanning between the pickup roller and the paper feeding roller, a roller belt is provided that is capable of moving relatively in a circumferential direction with respect to an outer circumferential surface of the paper feeding roller. The roller belt obtains rotational drive from the pickup roller.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a sheet transport apparatus is provided with a registration roller, a sheet transport path, a first optical sensor, a second sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet at an upstream side of the first optical sensor in a sheet transportation direction Xd, and a sheet transportation control unit that stops the driving of the registration roller after an elapse of a transportation time after the detection of sheet absence following sheet presence by the first optical sensor, wherein the sheet transportation control unit does not perform control with sheet detection by the first optical sensor within a detection restricted time after predetermined sheet detection by the second sensor when the sheet is of a specific type.

Abstract: As one embodiment, a paper feeding device is provided with a pickup roller for pulling out an uppermost positioned sheet of loaded sheets, and a paper feeding roller for transporting the sheet pulled out by the pickup roller. Spanning between the pickup roller and the paper feeding roller, a roller belt is provided that is capable of moving relatively in a circumferential direction with respect to an outer circumferential surface of the paper feeding roller. The roller belt obtains rotational drive from the pickup roller.

Abstract: A paper feeding device 200 provided in an image forming apparatus 1A according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided with a loading member 201 in which sheets P can be stacked and a central bending section 210 configured to upwardly raise a sheet transport direction X central area P2 of the sheet P for sheets P stacked in the loading member 201.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a heat roller and a fixing gear for rotating the heat roller are arranged concentrically, and coupled to each other by inserting a key formed in the fixing gear into a keyway formed in the heat roller. The keyway is designed such that the key is allowed to move along a direction in which the heat roller is rotated. For example, the keyway is formed by notching a free end of a one-side rotary shaft of the heat roller so as to extend along the direction in which the heat roller is rotated.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes first and second sheet sensors provided in order from upstream to downstream sides in feeding direction on a paper feed path, sheet conveyor roller sets arranged along the path, and a roller controller individually controlling groups of rollers on the upstream and downstream sides of the first sheet sensor, in response to a change in values of output signals from first and second sheet sensors. The roller controller includes an overlapped feeding determining device outputting a determination signal assuming a first value when overlapped feeding occurs and a second value otherwise, in response to the change in values of the output signals from the sensors, an overlapped feeding eliminating device eliminating overlapped feeding by controlling the roller controller upon receiving the determination signal of the first value, and a conveyor roller stopping device stopping the sheet conveyor rollers if the overlapped feeding eliminating process should fail.

Abstract: To provide a fusing unit including a fusing roller for fixing an unfixed toner image to a sheet and a fusing roller cleaning unit including a web sheet delivering roller for supplying a web sheet and a winding roller for taking up the web sheet for cleaning the fusing roller, the fusing roller cleaning unit includes a web detecting terminal for detecting the presence of the web sheet and a tension roller for guiding the web sheet, on the upstream side of a pressure roller with respect to the web sheet's direction of conveyance and first and second guide rollers, the second guide roller being disposed upstream of the web detecting terminal.

Abstract: In the present glossy paper, an opposite surface of a glossed and smooth image formation surface is rough-surfaced. Therefore, the glossy paper do not adhere together even under the high-temperature and high-humidity environment. In fact, the present invention provides glossy paper which can advantageously achieve a continuous paper feeding in the image forming apparatus regardless of the use environment conditions.

Abstract: A manual sheet feeding mechanism adapted for use in a sheet processing apparatus includes a manual feeding tray and a guiding member. The manual feeding tray is adapted to be mounted on a side wall of the apparatus so as to be pivotable about an axis between an open position and a closed position. The manual feeding tray has a placement surface for placing a sheet to be manually fed into the apparatus. The guiding member is adapted to position a sheet placed on the placement surface and is provided so as to be movable on the placement surface. The manual sheet feeding mechanism also includes a moving member that is adapted, when the manual feeding tray is pivoted toward the closed position, to move the guiding member on the placement surface.

Abstract: Mechanism unit(s) functioning as automatic-feed cassette(s) and mechanism unit(s) functioning as manual-feed tray(s) together form a single integral module, constituting a hybrid paper supply module. In such constitution, paper transport path(s) may be formed between or among first guide member(s) provided at automatic-feed cassette mechanism unit(s) and second guide member(s) provided at manual-feed mechanism unit(s), and manual-feed mechanism unit(s) may be pulled outward and to side(s) of apparatus(es) so as to cause paper transport path(s) to be opened up to the exterior, facilitating removal of jammed paper. Furthermore, given such constitution, a plurality of hybrid paper supply modules may be stacked together to constitute a paper supply mechanism. Manual-feed tray(s) with which manual-feed mechanism unit(s) of respective hybrid paper supply module(s) is or are provided may be collapsible so as to permit extension and/or retraction.

Abstract: A two-side image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with a first sheet-transferring path, for use in one-side image formation, for transferring, to a printed sheet storage section via an image transcribing section, a sheet supplied from an unprinted sheet storage section; and a second sheet-transferring path, connected to the first sheet-transferring path, for supplying a tuned-over one-side printed sheet to the image transcribing section, the two-image forming apparatus being controlled so that a plurality of sheets are transferred concurrently in an overall sheet-transferring path when performing two-side image forming operation, the overall sheet-transferring path including the first sheet-transferring path and the second sheet-transferring path. With this arrangement, it is possible to attain a significant improvement in process efficiency.

Abstract: A feeding device according to the present invention holds a pile of sheets of paper in it. Feed force so acts selectively on a specified region of the upper side of the held top sheet as to feed the held sheets one after one in a feed direction. The feeding device includes a flat press plate and a support. The press plate is not smaller in the feed direction and the cross directions perpendicular to the feed direction than the maximum size of the sheets which can be held in the main body. The press plate is not larger in the feed and cross directions than the inner size of the main body. The press plate has a first opening formed over the specified region. The press plate is supported vertically movably above the held sheets by the support.

Abstract: A feeding device according to the present invention includes a box, paper holders, and a shifting mechanism. The box is open at Its top. The paper holders are open at their tops and positioned in the box. Each of the paper holders holds a pile of sheets of paper in it. The shifting mechanism so shifts at least one of the paper holders that the top sheet in one of the paper holders is positioned in a single freed position in the box according to selection data output from the apparatus with which the feeding device is used.