Abstract: A self-closing device is configured to retract a unit capable of being pulled out with respect to an apparatus main body, to the apparatus main body. The self-closing device includes a plurality of retracting modules configured to retract the unit from a retracting start position towards a retracting end position. The plurality of retracting modules are provided such that retracting strokes from the retracting start position to the retracting end position partially overlap each other and the retracting start positions are different from each other in the retracting direction.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism of the present disclosure includes a drive transmission member, a coupling member and a biasing member. The drive transmission member includes a shaft portion and an engagement pin. The coupling member includes a plurality of engagement protrusions and a holding protrusion which is smaller than the engagement protrusion. The holding protrusion makes contact with the engagement pin in a state where the engagement pin makes contact with the pressing surface. A load in a reverse rotation direction is applied from the holding protrusion to the engagement pin when the coupling member is reversely rotated.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding cartridge, a pair of fixed rails, a pair of movable rails and a pressing part. The sheet feeding cartridge has a pair of side plates extending in taking-out/taking-in directions and is taken out/in an installed part in an apparatus main body. The fixed rails are extended in the taking-out/taking-in directions in the installed part. The movable rails are provided to move in the taking-out/taking-in directions along the fixed rails. If the pressing part is provided in one side plate, the pressing part applies biasing force to one movable rail facing to one side plate so that another side plate comes into pressure contact with another movable rail. If the pressing part is provided in one movable rail, the pressing part applies biasing force to one side plate so that another side plate comes into pressure contact with another movable rail.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism of the present disclosure includes a drive transmission member, a coupling member and a biasing member. The drive transmission member includes a shaft portion and an engagement pin. The coupling member includes a plurality of engagement protrusions and a holding protrusion which is smaller than the engagement protrusion. The holding protrusion makes contact with the engagement pin in a state where the engagement pin makes contact with the pressing surface. A load in a reverse rotation direction is applied from the holding protrusion to the engagement pin when the coupling member is reversely rotated.

Abstract: A sheet feeding cartridge storing a sheet conveyed orthogonally to a width direction includes a main body, a pair of side cursors and a restricting member. The main body has a bottom part including a sheet placement face and allows sheets of different sizes to be placed. The side cursors mutually slide in approaching and separating directions and restrict a position in the width direction. The restricting member comes into contact with a side edge in the width direction at a position separated from one of the side cursors to an upstream side in a conveyance direction and restricts the position in the width direction. The restricting member is attachably/detachably provided in the main body at each of plural positions along the width direction and restricts the side edge of each of the sheets of different sizes in the width direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding cartridge storing a sheet conveyed orthogonally to a width direction includes a main body, a pair of side cursors and a restricting member. The main body has a bottom part including a sheet placement face and allows sheets of different sizes to be placed. The side cursors mutually slide in approaching and separating directions and restrict a position in the width direction. The restricting member comes into contact with a side edge in the width direction at a position separated from one of the side cursors to an upstream side in a conveyance direction and restricts the position in the width direction. The restricting member is attachably/detachably provided in the main body at each of plural positions along the width direction and restricts the side edge of each of the sheets of different sizes in the width direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding cartridge, a pair of fixed rails, a pair of movable rails and a pressing part. The sheet feeding cartridge has a pair of side plates extending in taking-out/taking-in directions and is taken out/in an installed part in an apparatus main body. The fixed rails are extended in the taking-out/taking-in directions in the installed part. The movable rails are provided to move in the taking-out/taking-in directions along the fixed rails. If the pressing part is provided in one side plate, the pressing part applies biasing force to one movable rail facing to one side plate so that another side plate comes into pressure contact with another movable rail. If the pressing part is provided in one movable rail, the pressing part applies biasing force to one side plate so that another side plate comes into pressure contact with another movable rail.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet feeding cassette stored in a cassette storage part, a heater and flow regulating plates. A first gap is formed between the bottom plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a bottom portion of the cassette storage part, and having an air intake port. A second gap is formed between the side plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a side portion of the cassette storage part and has a vent port communicating with the first gap and the sheet storing part. The flow regulating plates are disposed in the first gap so as to form a duct together with the sheet feeding cassette and the cassette storage part. Air flow is generated such that air is supplied from the air intake port into the first gap, is heated, rises through the second gap from the vent port, and flows to the sheet storing part.

Abstract: A self-closing device is configured to retract a unit capable of being pulled out with respect to an apparatus main body, to the apparatus main body. The self-closing device includes a plurality of retracting modules configured to retract the unit from a retracting start position towards a retracting end position. The plurality of retracting modules are provided such that retracting strokes from the retracting start position to the retracting end position partially overlap each other and the retracting start positions are different from each other in the retracting direction.

Abstract: A recording medium storage apparatus has a storage cassette and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism restricts movement of the storage cassette in the drawing direction. The lock mechanism has an engaging portion on an apparatus body and an engaged portion on the storage cassette. While the storage cassette is drawn out of the apparatus body, an abutting portion of the engaging portion moves along a first slope on the engaged portion toward a peak portion while swinging in a second direction in which it retracts from the engaged portion, and meanwhile the engaged portion rotates in a third direction so that the peak portion is displaced from a protruding position to a guiding position.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet feeding cassette stored in a cassette storage part, a heater and flow regulating plates. A first gap is formed between the bottom plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a bottom portion of the cassette storage part, and having an air intake port. A second gap is formed between the side plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a side portion of the cassette storage part and has a vent port communicating with the first gap and the sheet storing part. The flow regulating plates are disposed in the first gap so as to form a duct together with the sheet feeding cassette and the cassette storage part. Air flow is generated such that air is supplied from the air intake port into the first gap, is heated, rises through the second gap from the vent port, and flows to the sheet storing part.

Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a feed unit and a sheet loading cassette. The feed unit includes a separation conveyance portion that is composed of a feed member and a separation member, a separation holder that supports the separation member and is swingable, and a pressing member that presses the separation holder. The sheet loading cassette includes a grip portion, a pressure release member that, in conjunction with an operation of drawing out the sheet loading cassette, comes into contact with the pressing member, an operation lever that is provided at the grip portion. In a state where the sheet loading cassette is inserted in the apparatus main body, the operation lever is gripped together with the grip portion, and thus the pressure release member slides to come into contact with the pressing member, so that the pressing member is released from the separation holder.

Abstract: A recording medium storage apparatus has a storage cassette and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism restricts movement of the storage cassette in the drawing direction. The lock mechanism has an engaging portion on an apparatus body and an engaged portion on the storage cassette. While the storage cassette is drawn out of the apparatus body, an abutting portion of the engaging portion moves along a first slope on the engaged portion toward a peak portion while swinging in a second direction in which it retracts from the engaged portion, and meanwhile the engaged portion rotates in a third direction so that the peak portion is displaced from a protruding position to a guiding position.

Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a feed unit and a sheet loading cassette. The feed unit includes a separation conveyance portion that is composed of a feed member and a separation member, a separation holder that supports the separation member and is swingable, and a pressing member that presses the separation holder. The sheet loading cassette includes a grip portion, a pressure release member that, in conjunction with an operation of drawing out the sheet loading cassette, comes into contact with the pressing member, an operation lever that is provided at the grip portion. In a state where the sheet loading cassette is inserted in the apparatus main body, the operation lever is gripped together with the grip portion, and thus the pressure release member slides to come into contact with the pressing member, so that the pressing member is released from the separation holder.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet cassette insertable into a housing in a first direction, a remaining amount detecting member including a contact piece extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction and coming into contact with an uppermost sheet, and detecting a remaining amount of sheets according to a position of the contact piece, and a switching member switching the position of the contact piece between a contact position where the contact piece enters a storage space to come into contact with the uppermost sheet and a retracted position where the contact piece is retracted from the storage space. The position is switched to the contact position when the sheet cassette is inserted into the housing in the first direction and set to a feeding position while switched to the retracted position when the sheet cassette is separated from the feeding position and withdrawn from the housing.

Abstract: A paper supply apparatus for conveying paper to an image forming apparatus has a paper accommodating unit to accommodate paper and to be drawn out from an accommodating space in a main body of the image forming apparatus. The apparatus also has a handle to rotate about an axis extending in the width direction of the paper in the paper accommodating unit. The handle includes a first edge that moves toward the paper accommodating unit upon rotation of the handle and a second edge that opposes the first edge. A link on the first edge of the handle releases engagement with the main body when the first edge moves toward the paper accommodating unit. A flapper is disposed on the second edge of the handle and forms a point where a force acts to move the first edge toward the paper accommodating unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet cassette insertable into a housing in a first direction, a remaining amount detecting member including a contact piece extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction and coming into contact with an uppermost sheet, and detecting a remaining amount of sheets according to a position of the contact piece, and a switching member switching the position of the contact piece between a contact position where the contact piece enters a storage space to come into contact with the uppermost sheet and a retracted position where the contact piece is retracted from the storage space. The position is switched to the contact position when the sheet cassette is inserted into the housing in the first direction and set to a feeding position while switched to the retracted position when the sheet cassette is separated from the feeding position and withdrawn from the housing.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device has a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet stack, a sheet carrying plate for carrying the sheet stack and a pickup roller that dispatches the uppermost sheet of the stack. An elevator displaces the sheet carrying plate between a sheet feeding position where an upper face of the sheet stack contacts the pickup roller and a separating position where the upper face of the sheet stack is separated from the pickup roller. A first warm air mechanism blows warm air toward a side face of the sheet stack. A controller causes the first warm air mechanism to blow warm air to the side face of the sheet stack and causes the elevator to displace the sheet carrying plate between the sheet feeding position and the separating position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet-form recording medium includes: a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet stack constituted by a plurality of sheets of the sheet-form recording medium; and a first warm air unit having a first blowing port for blowing warm air toward an upper face of the sheet stack accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion. The sheet feeding device preferably further includes a second warm air unit having a second blowing port for blowing warm air onto a side face of the sheet stack that is parallel to a sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet stack. A sheet carrying plate carries the sheet stack and has an upstream end supported in the sheet accommodating portion for rotation. A pickup roller contacts an upper face of the sheet stack and dispatches an uppermost sheet. An elevator displaces the sheet carrying plate between a feeding position where the upper face of the sheet stack contacts the pickup roller and a separating position where the upper face of the sheet stack is separated from the pickup roller. A first warm air mechanism blows warm air toward a side of the sheet stack in the sheet accommodating portion, the side being parallel to the sheet feeding direction. A controller controls the elevator so that the sheet carrying plate is displaced between the feeding position and the separating position during a warm air blowing operation.