Abstract: The sheet feeding device includes a housing, first and second feeding paths, and first and second covers. The first feeding path extends in a vertical direction within the housing. The second feeding path extends in the vertical direction within the housing, and a lower end thereof is connected to an upper end of the first feeding path. The first cover exposes, in an open state, the first feeding path outside of the housing. The second cover exposes, in an open state, the second feeding path outside of the housing. When both the first cover and the second cover are opened, the first cover and the second cover are respectively in the open state relative to the housing in a mode where a second opening angle of the second cover relative to the housing is smaller than a first opening angle of the first cover relative to the housing.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a plurality of transfer members and a switch section. The switch section, in a first state, causes the transfer members to be pressed against a plurality of image bearing members. The switch section, in a second state, causes a transfer member opposed to a first image bearing member to be pressed against the first image bearing member, and causes a transfer member opposed to a second image bearing member to be separated from the second image bearing member. In the first state, toner images of different colors are transferred from the image bearing members to an intermediate transfer belt and superimposed together. In the second state, a single-color toner image is transferred from the first image bearing member to the intermediate transfer belt. The switch section changes a pressing force of the transfer member to the first image bearing member between the first and second states.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a sheet conveying path, a first conveying roller pair, a second conveying roller pair and a sheet guiding member. The sheet conveying path conveys a sheet in a first direction, and then, conveys the sheet in a second direction. The first conveying roller pair conveys the sheet in the first direction. The second conveying roller pair is located at a downstream side from the first conveying roller pair to convey the sheet to the second direction from the first direction. The sheet guiding member is located between the first conveying roller pair and second conveying roller pair so as to advance and retreat to the sheet conveying path, and then, in an advance state, to come into contact with a sheet face of the sheet conveyed while being bridged across the first conveying roller pair and second conveying roller pair.

Abstract: The sheet feeding device includes a housing, first and second feeding paths, and first and second covers. The first feeding path extends in a vertical direction within the housing. The second feeding path extends in the vertical direction within the housing, and a lower end thereof is connected to an upper end of the first feeding path. The first cover exposes, in an open state, the first feeding path outside of the housing. The second cover exposes, in an open state, the second feeding path outside of the housing. When both the first cover and the second cover are opened, the first cover and the second cover are respectively in the open state relative to the housing in a mode where a second opening angle of the second cover relative to the housing is smaller than a first opening angle of the first cover relative to the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a transfer roller configured to be opposite to an image carrier when the housing is rotated around a rotation fulcrum, a transfer roller pressing member configured to urge the transfer roller toward the image carrier, a guide configured to feed transfer paper, a fixing hook configured to be urged in a direction to lock the housing about a main body, a transfer roller releasing lever configured to separate the transfer roller from the image carrier against urging performed by the transfer roller pressing member, a transfer roller positioning part that is disposed in the main body and configured to position the transfer roller, and an operation part configured to cause the fixing hook to rotate in a direction to unlock the housing such that the transfer roller releasing lever rotates in a direction to release the transfer roller from the image carrier.

Abstract: A guiding roller unit has a holder to be mounted on a mount, and a guiding roller rotatably supported by the holder. The holder includes a base, two bearings and widening preventing plates attached respectively to the bearing. The base, the bearings and the widening preventing parts are integral to each other. The base is mounted on the mount. The bearings stand from opposite ends of the base and rotatably support the roller. The widening preventing plates extend in directions opposite to facing directions of the bearings. The holder enables the roller to be attached and detached with leading ends of the bearings elastically widened with respect to base ends thereof connected with the base while being detached from the mount, whereas it prohibits widening of the leading ends of the bearings by contacting the mount in response to forces acting in widening directions while being mounted on the mount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image bearing member for bearing a toner image while rotating, a developing device including a developing roller for supplying toner to a surface of the image bearing member and a pair of gap rollers held in contact with opposite end portions of the image bearing member to define a specified gap between the developing roller and the surface of the image bearing member, and a lubricant applicator for applying a lubricant to parts of the opposite end portions of the image bearing member where the gap rollers are in contact.

Abstract: A charging unit in an image forming apparatus includes a charging roller that charges a photosensitive drum using a charging bias, an insulating casing surrounding the charging roller, and a metal shield member. The shield member is positioned so as to surround the casing in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the casing.

Abstract: A waste-toner collection system includes a waste toner container that accumulate waste toner from a transport section. A tray has an upward opening for replacing the waste toner container and can be movable between a retracted position where the tray has been pushed horizontally into the apparatus body from a first side of the apparatus body, and a drawn-out position where the tray has been drawn horizontally out of the apparatus body from the first side, while holding the waste toner container. The waste toner container can be set in a collection position corresponding to the retracted position of the tray for allowing the waste toner container to receive waste toner discharged from the transport section, and a replacement position corresponding to the drawn-out position of the holder tray for allowing replacement to be performed through the container-replacement opening from above the tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a transfer roller configured to be opposite to an image carrier when the housing is rotated around a rotation fulcrum, a transfer roller pressing member configured to urge the transfer roller toward the image carrier, a guide configured to feed transfer paper, a fixing hook configured to be urged in a direction to lock the housing about the main body, a transfer roller releasing lever configured to separate the transfer roller from the image carrier against urging performed by the transfer roller pressing member, a transfer roller positioning part that is disposed in a main body and configured to position the transfer roller, and an operation part configured to cause the fixing hook to rotate in a direction to unlock the housing roller such that the transfer roller releasing lever rotates in a direction to release the transfer roller from the image carrier.

Abstract: A motor drive device drives a stepping motor having a rotor mounted on a rotating shaft with a capability of making a transition between a plurality of excitation modes. A motor control unit drives the stepping motor by controlling the rotor to move to a position corresponding to an excitation modes. A stop control unit controls, when stopping the stepping motor, a stop of the rotor at a position to which the rotor is moved by the motor control unit common to the excitation modes after the stop of the rotor is issued.

Abstract: Disclosed is a waste toner container for collecting waste toner removed from an image bearing member. The waste toner container includes a receiving section adapted to introduce the waste toner from an inlet port provided in an upper region thereof, and receive therein the waste toner dropped down through the inlet port, an accumulation section arranged to extend from the receiving section in a lateral direction approximately perpendicular to a dropping direction of the waste toner and rotatably coupled to the receiving section, and a rotary member adapted to allow for rotation of the accumulation section.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting device includes: a tubular member provided with a toner inlet and a toner outlet; a roller that is provided upstream of the toner outlet in a toner transport direction inside the tubular member, that has a substantially horizontal rotation axis line, and that is elliptical in vertical section; a scraper that is provided on an inner wall of the tubular member on a downstream side of the toner outlet in a rotation direction of the roller, an edge of the scraper being in contact with the roller; and a waste toner collecting bag that is inflatable and is attached to the toner outlet of the tubular member.

Abstract: A charging unit in an image forming apparatus comprising a charging roller that charges a photosensitive drum using a charging bias, an insulating casing surrounding the charging roller, and a metal shield member. The shield member is positioned so as to surround the casing in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the casing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a cooling fan for cooling toner boxes within the apparatus. The outlet of the cooling fan and the toner boxes are connected by flexible tubes, respectively. This makes it possible to connect the cooling fan with the toner boxes even if there is not sufficient space, thereby enabling cooling of the toner boxes.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting device includes: a waste toner collecting bag being stretchable; a toner conveyance part fitted with the waste toner collecting bag, and conveying a waste toner and also discharging the waste toner toward the waste toner collecting bag; and a holding member for the waste toner collecting bag, which holding member is attached to a terminal end part of the waste toner collecting bag, is capable of being fitted to the toner conveyance part by holding the waste toner collecting bag between the holding member and the toner conveyance part while folding the waste toner collecting bag more compactly than in a used state, and is attachable to and removable from the toner conveyance part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image bearing member for bearing a toner image while rotating, a developing device including a developing roller for supplying toner to a surface of the image bearing member and a pair of gap rollers held in contact with opposite end portions of the image bearing member to define a specified gap between the developing roller and the surface of the image bearing member, and a lubricant applicator for applying a lubricant to parts of the opposite end portions of the image bearing member where the gap rollers are in contact.

Abstract: Disclosed is a waste toner container for collecting waste toner removed from an image bearing member. The waste toner container includes a receiving section adapted to introduce the waste toner from an inlet port provided in an upper region thereof, and receive therein the waste toner dropped down through the inlet port, an accumulation section arranged to extend from the receiving section in a lateral direction approximately perpendicular to a dropping direction of the waste toner and rotatably coupled to the receiving section, and a rotary member adapted to allow for rotation of the accumulation section.

Abstract: A waste-toner collection system includes a waste toner container that accumulate waste toner from a transport section. A tray has an upward opening for replacing the waste toner container and can be movable between a retracted position where the tray has been pushed horizontally into the apparatus body from a first side of the apparatus body, and a drawn-out position where the tray has been drawn horizontally out of the apparatus body from the first side, while holding the waste toner container. The waste toner container can be set in a collection position corresponding to the retracted position of the tray for allowing the waste toner container to receive waste toner discharged from the transport section, and a replacement position corresponding to the drawn-out position of the holder tray for allowing replacement to be performed through the container-replacement opening from above the tray.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting device includes: a waste toner collecting bag being stretchable; a toner conveyance part fitted with the waste toner collecting bag, and conveying a waste toner and also discharging the waste toner toward the waste toner collecting bag; and a holding member for the waste toner collecting bag, which holding member is attached to a terminal end part of the waste toner collecting bag, is capable of being fitted to the toner conveyance part by holding the waste toner collecting bag between the holding member and the toner conveyance part while folding the waste toner collecting bag more compactly than in a used state, and is attachable to and removable from the toner conveyance part.