Abstract: An aid tool used for aiding in replacement operation of a part to be replaced in an image forming apparatus. This aid tool includes: a part holding unit for holding a part to be replaced; and a mounting portion for removably mounting the part holding unit on an image forming apparatus. The part holding unit is for example a part housing container for housing a part, and may also serve as a packaging container which houses a new replacing part. The part housing container may include, for example, a main body for receiving the part to be replaced, and a lid for openably closing the main body.

Abstract: A drum unit exchange time indicating device for image forming apparatus comprises, an integrated signal output means to give output of integrated signal added up according to the time of use of the drum unit, a life signal output means to give output of drum unit life signal when said integrated signal exceeds predetermined value and a paper-feed mode changing means to change the mode of paper-feeding into an extraordinary mode when said drum unit life signal is detected.

Abstract: An apparatus for the formation of images, including: paper-ejection rollers that eject recording paper on which an image has been formed with the surface facing upward, a first tray in which the recording paper ejected from the paper-ejection rollers is received with the surface facing upward, a route for turning over the recording paper, which is ejected with its face upward by the paper-ejection rollers, wherein said paper passes through the inside of the route after it is ejected by said paper-ejection rollers, a second tray in which the recording paper is received with the surface facing downward, guides that make possible the selection of either said first tray or said route for turning over the paper as the direction in which the paper ejected by said paper-ejection rollers is sent, and a switching means for switching said guides, by which the direction in which the recording paper is sent is switched between supplying of the recording paper to said first tray and to said route for turning paper over.

Abstract: In a laser beam printer wherein the quantity of light of the laser beam is fed back to maintain the light quantity at a constant value, the temperature sensor means is provided for detecting the temperature of the photosensitive member, and the feedback circuit is so constructed that the light quantity setting reference signal of the circuit is adjusted in accordance with the output of the temperature sensor means. Consequently, the quantity of light of the laser beam is adjusted according to the temperature-sensitivity characteristics of the photosensitive member to give a constant image density.

Abstract: A copying paper feed device for an electrostatic copier. A copying paper cassette receiving section is adapted to receive a copying paper cassette having a box-like case with a bottom plate the front end of which is biased upwardly by a spring. Within the cassette receiving section, a feed roller is mounted on a rotatable shaft that is adapted to be connected to a drive source. When the copying paper cassette is properly loaded into the cassette receiving section, the front end of the uppermost sheet of copying paper contacts the feed roller. A clutch in its operating condition links the feed roller with the drive source and in its non-operating condition permits the feed roller to freely rotate.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image on the surface of a sheet material within an electrostatic copying machine. A movable supporting member rotatably mounts a follower fixing roller for free movement between a press-contacting position, at which the follower fixing roller is maintained in press-contact with a rotatably mounted driven fixer roller, and an isolated position at which at least the greater portion of the follower fixing roller in its longitudinal direction is isolated from, or maintained out of press contact with, the driven fixer roller. A control mechanism moves the supporting members to the press-contacting position in response to energization of a dirve source to which the driven fixer roller is connected and to the isolated position upon deenergization of the drive source.

Abstract: An electrostatic copying apparatus equipped with a first and second supporting frames connected to each other for relative pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position. The rotatable drum and the developing device are mounted on a first unit frame, while the drum cleaning device and the charging corona discharge device are mounted on a second unit frame. The first unit frame and the second unit frame are each mounted on the upper supporting frame with the cleaning device, the charging corona discharge device and the developing device mounted around the drum in sequence in the drum rotating direction. The first unit frame and the second unit frame are detachably mounted on the upper supporting frame and thus can be readily accessed for maintenance.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder, comprising a document supply section for supplying documents one by one toward a document platen, a belt feed section for transferring a supplied document to a predetermined position on the document platen to enable an image forming operation, and a document discharge section for discharging onto a document discharge tray a document fed from the belt feed section upon completion of the image forming operation, is attached so that it is upwardly turnable with respect to the document platen so as to enable manual and automatic document settings to be made selectively. Further, the automatic document feeder is designed to discriminate between manual and automatic document setting modes and to detect the presence or absence of a document at a predetermined position in the automatic document feeder when the automatic document setting mode is selected. The automatic document feeder is driven with a predetermined timing for the setting of documents.

Abstract: An electrostatic copying apparatus equipped with a first and second supporting frames connected to each other for relative pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position. The first supporting frame has provided therein a rotatably mounted interlocking input gear and a first power transmission system drivingly connected to the interlocking input gear. The second supporting frame has provided therein a drive source, a second power transmission system drivingly connected to the drive source and a rotatably mounted interlocking output gear drivingly connected to the drive source. A pivot member mounted pivotally about the axis of rotation of the interlocking input gear or the interlocking output gear and elastically held at a predetermined angular position by a spring means is provided in the first or second supporting frame. An interlocking linking gear is rotatably mounted on the pivot member.

Abstract: An electrostatic copying apparatus having a document holding device and a semi-automatic document feeding and discharging device provided on the top of a housing. The semi-automatic document feeding and discharging device includes a main frame structure mounted for free turning between an operating position and a non-operating position. When the main frame structure is held at the operating position, a document conveying passage having an introducing section, a main section and a curved discharging section is defined.

Abstract: An electrostatic copying apparatus having a document holding device and a semi-automatic document feeding and discharging device provided on the top of a housing. The semi-automatic document feeding and discharging device includes a main frame structure mounted for free turning between an operating position and a non-operating position. When the main frame structure is held at the operating position, a document conveying passage having an introducing section, a main section and a curved discharging section is defined.