Abstract: In a paper cassette, a guide slides on a tray to place a sheet at a proper position. A lift mechanism uses a restoring force of an elastic member to push up the tray and make the sheet on the tray approach a pickup roller. When the paper cassette is pushed by a user from an opened position, which is out of the housing of a printer, to a closed position, which is in the housing, an adjuster mechanism mechanically converts a force of the user pushing the paper cassette to the restoring force of the elastic member from a time the guide reaches a specific point on a trajectory along which the guide travels together with the paper cassette, thus adjusting the strength of the restoring force continuously to a distance by which the guide overruns the specific point.

Abstract: In a paper cassette, a guide slides on a tray to place a sheet at a proper position. A lift mechanism uses a restoring force of an elastic member to push up the tray and make the sheet on the tray approach a pickup roller. When the paper cassette is pushed by a user from an opened position, which is out of the housing of a printer, to a closed position, which is in the housing, an adjuster mechanism mechanically converts a force of the user pushing the paper cassette to the restoring force of the elastic member from a time the guide reaches a specific point on a trajectory along which the guide travels together with the paper cassette, thus adjusting the strength of the restoring force continuously to a distance by which the guide overruns the specific point.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding device includes: a housing; a cassette configured to accommodate a sheet material therein and capable of being pulled out of the housing; a pushing-up plate which is on the cassette and configured to fluctuate and a position thereof is changed to a feeding position or a retracted position; a rear-end regulating member for regulating a position of an upstream end of the sheet material; a rear-end displacement member which is supported by the rear-end regulating member and configured to fluctuate and a position thereof is changed to a feeding position or a retracted position; a pushing-up plate displacing device configured to change the position of the pushing-up plate to the feeding position; and a rear-end displacement member displacing device configured to complete a position change of the rear-end displacement member to the feeding position before a position change of the pushing-up plate to the feeding position.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding device includes: a housing; a cassette configured to accommodate a sheet material therein and capable of being pulled out of the housing; a pushing-up plate which is on the cassette and configured to fluctuate and a position thereof is changed to a feeding position or a retracted position; a rear-end regulating member for regulating a position of an upstream end of the sheet material; a rear-end displacement member which is supported by the rear-end regulating member and configured to fluctuate and a position thereof is changed to a feeding position or a retracted position; a pushing-up plate displacing device configured to change the position of the pushing-up plate to the feeding position; and a rear-end displacement member displacing device configured to complete a position change of the rear-end displacement member to the feeding position before a position change of the pushing-up plate to the feeding position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying unit configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path group including at least a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path joining the first conveyance path; an image forming unit; and a path switcher, wherein: the path switcher includes: a guide unit configured to rotate about a guide supporting point and rotate between a first position and a second position; a protruding portion fixed to the guide unit; a drive lever having a first pressing surface and a second pressing surface; a first force applying unit; and a second force applying unit; the drive lever includes: a first lever; a second lever; a third force applying unit; and a restraining portion configured to set a moving end on the rotation of the second lever; and the restraining portion restricts the moving end of the second lever to a predetermined position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying unit configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path group including at least a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path joining the first conveyance path; an image forming unit; and a path switcher, wherein: the path switcher includes: a guide unit configured to rotate about a guide supporting point and rotate between a first position and a second position; a protruding portion fixed to the guide unit; a drive lever having a first pressing surface and a second pressing surface; a first force applying unit; and a second force applying unit; the drive lever includes: a first lever; a second lever; a third force applying unit; and a restraining portion configured to set a moving end on the rotation of the second lever; and the restraining portion restricts the moving end of the second lever to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes a recording-media container, a width regulating member, and a locking mechanism. The recording-media container is attachable to and detachable from a body of an image forming apparatus. The recording-media container stores a recording medium. The width regulating member regulates a position in a widthwise direction of the recording medium stored in the recording-media container. The locking mechanism steplessly changes a movable range of the width regulating member in the widthwise direction. The width regulating member includes a lever configured to cooperate with the width regulating member to hold the locking mechanism so as to bring the locking mechanism into an unlocked state. The locking mechanism in a locked state restricts movement of the width regulating member in the widthwise direction, and regulates wobbling of the width regulating member in a direction orthogonal to the widthwise direction.

Abstract: In a roller member where a rotary shaft is inserted through a through-hole of a roller part so that the roller part is removably mounted on the rotary shaft, the rotary shaft is provided with a positioning retention part for retaining one end of the roller part. Further, the rotary shaft is provided with an engagement recess at place on its portion outward of the other end of the roller part. An engagement protrusion is provided at a snap fit portion extended axially outward from the other end of the roller part. In a state where the snap fit portion is elastically deformed in a direction opposite to the extension direction, the engagement protrusion is engaged with the engagement recess.

Abstract: In a roller member where a rotary shaft is inserted through a through-hole of a roller part so that the roller part is removably mounted on the rotary shaft, the rotary shaft is provided with a positioning retention part for retaining one end of the roller part. Further, the rotary shaft is provided with an engagement recess at place on its portion outward of the other end of the roller part. An engagement protrusion is provided at a snap fit portion extended axially outward from the other end of the roller part. In a state where the snap fit portion is elastically deformed in a direction opposite to the extension direction, the engagement protrusion is engaged with the engagement recess.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes a recording-media container, a width regulating member, and a locking mechanism. The recording-media container is attachable to and detachable from a body of an image forming apparatus. The recording-media container stores a recording medium. The width regulating member regulates a position in a widthwise direction of the recording medium stored in the recording-media container. The locking mechanism steplessly changes a movable range of the width regulating member in the widthwise direction. The width regulating member includes a lever configured to cooperate with the width regulating member to hold the locking mechanism so as to bring the locking mechanism into an unlocked state. The locking mechanism in a locked state restricts movement of the width regulating member in the widthwise direction, and regulates wobbling of the width regulating member in a direction orthogonal to the widthwise direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a recording media storage device. The recording media storage device stores recording media and is attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a feeding mechanism to pick up and convey one of the recording media at a time. The lock member disables the recording media storage device to be detached. The overflow restriction member is disposed in the main body and changes between a restriction position closer to an uppermost part of the recording media and a withdrawal position farther from the uppermost part of the recording media. The position change mechanism is disposed in the main body and changes the overflow restriction member into the restriction position when the lock member changes into a free state in which the recording media storage device is attachable and detachable.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a recording media storage device. The recording media storage device stores recording media and is attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a feeding mechanism to pick up and convey one of the recording media at a time. The lock member disables the recording media storage device to be detached. The overflow restriction member is disposed in the main body and changes between a restriction position closer to an uppermost part of the recording media and a withdrawal position farther from the uppermost part of the recording media. The position change mechanism is disposed in the main body and changes the overflow restriction member into the restriction position when the lock member changes into a free state in which the recording media storage device is attachable and detachable.