Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a development cartridge is movable between a contact position in which a development roller is in contact with a photosensitive drum and a separate position in which the development roller is separate from the photosensitive drum, by a cam and a cam follower that is caused to slide in directions parallel to a rotation axis of the cam between a push position in which the development cartridge is pushed by the cam and positioned in the separate position and a no-push position in which the development cartridge is in the contact position. The cam follower includes a first shaft and a contact arm extending from the first shaft and configured to contact a cam surface of the cam. A projection of the first shaft onto the first cam in a direction parallel to the rotation axis is positioned inside a contour of the first cam.

Abstract: A manual feed tray is located at a side surface of a main housing. A supply roller conveys a sheet on the manual feed tray toward a print engine. A pressure plate is movable between a contact position at which the sheet on the manual feed tray contacts the supply roller and a separated position at which the sheet on the manual feed tray is separated from the supply roller. A push-up cam pushes up the pressure plate from the separated position to the contact position. The push-up cam includes a contact portion configured to contact the pressure plate. A controller is configured to: when performing printing on a plurality of sheets, after moving the pressure plate from the separated position to the contact position, convey the plurality of sheets by intermittently driving the supply roller while maintaining the pressure plate at the contact position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a toner image forming portion, a foil transfer unit, a sheet tray, and a discharge portion. The toner image forming portion is provided in the housing and configured to form a toner image on a sheet. The foil transfer unit is configured to superpose a foil with a surface of the sheet. The sheet tray is installable in the housing in an inserting direction and configured to accommodate a sheet to be supplied to the toner image forming portion. The first discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the foil transfer unit to the outside of the housing in a discharging direction opposite to the inserting direction. The second discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the toner image forming portion to the outside of the housing without passing through the foil transfer unit in the discharge direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing including an image forming unit and a discharge tray, and an optional device configured to be removably attached to the main casing. The main casing includes a conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed from the image forming unit, a discharge path through which the sheet is conveyed toward one of the discharge tray and the optional device, the discharge path diverging from the conveying path, and a return path including a first path through which the sheet is conveyed temporarily out of the main casing via an opening formed in the main casing, and a second path through which the sheet is conveyed toward the image forming unit. The first path diverges from the conveying path. The second path diverges from the first path. The optional device is disposed closer to the discharge tray than the opening.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a development cartridge is movable between a contact position in which a development roller is in contact with a photosensitive drum and a separate position in which the development roller is separate from the photosensitive drum, by a cam and a cam follower that is caused to slide in directions parallel to a rotation axis of the cam between a push position in which the development cartridge is pushed by the cam and positioned in the separate position and a no-push position in which the development cartridge is in the contact position. The cam follower includes a first shaft and a contact arm extending from the first shaft and configured to contact a cam surface of the cam. A projection of the first shaft onto the first cam in a direction parallel to the rotation axis is positioned inside a contour of the first cam.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having an image forming device, a reversible roller rotatable in a first direction and a second direction, a motor, a switching assembly, is provided. The switching assembly has a planetary differential gear having an input gear, a first output gear, a second output gear, and a planetary gear; a first driving-force transmitter connecting the first output gear and the reversible roller; a second driving-force transmitter connecting the second output gear and the reversible roller; and a switcher. The switcher switches conditions of the switching assembly between a first condition, wherein the reversible roller is rotated in the first direction by the first output gear allowed to output the driving force to the first driving-force transmitter, and a second condition, wherein the reversible roller is rotated in the second direction by the second output gear allowed to output the driving force to the second driving-force transmitter.

Abstract: A multi-function apparatus employs an in-body sheet discharge type configuration. The image forming device includes a front door and a multi-purpose tray. The front door is movable between a closed position set along a side surface at one side of a case of the image forming device and an opened position opened at the one side with respect to the side surface. The front door has an opening formed therein. The multi-purpose tray is provided to be selectively located at a non-use state at which the multi-purpose tray closes the opening and an in-use position at which the multi-purpose tray opens the opening. When the front door is located at the closed position and the multi-purpose tray is located at the non-use position, an upper end surface of the multi-purpose tray is exposed upward.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing including an image forming unit and a discharge tray, and an optional device configured to be removably attached to the main casing. The main casing includes a conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed from the image forming unit, a discharge path through which the sheet is conveyed toward one of the discharge tray and the optional device, the discharge path diverging from the conveying path, and a return path including a first path through which the sheet is conveyed temporarily out of the main casing via an opening formed in the main casing, and a second path through which the sheet is conveyed toward the image forming unit. The first path diverges from the conveying path. The second path diverges from the first path. The optional device is disposed closer to the discharge tray than the opening.

Abstract: A manual feed tray is located at a side surface of a main housing. A supply roller conveys a sheet on the manual feed tray toward a print engine. A pressure plate is movable between a contact position at which the sheet on the manual feed tray contacts the supply roller and a separated position at which the sheet on the manual feed tray is separated from the supply roller. A push-up cam pushes up the pressure plate from the separated position to the contact position. The push-up cam includes a contact portion configured to contact the pressure plate. A controller is configured to: when performing printing on a plurality of sheets, after moving the pressure plate from the separated position to the contact position, convey the plurality of sheets by intermittently driving the supply roller while maintaining the pressure plate at the contact position.

Abstract: A transfer belt unit for use with an image forming apparatus includes: a transfer belt; and a belt memory. The transfer belt is configured to transfer toner on a photosensitive drum of the image forming apparatus onto a sheet conveyed to a portion between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt. The transfer belt is also configured to make contact with a cleaning roller of the image forming apparatus and to be cleaned by the cleaning roller. The belt memory includes: a first storage area configured to store therein a first rotation time period indicating a total of a period of time that the cleaning roller rotates at a first rotational speed; and a second storage area configured to store therein a second rotation time period indicating a total of a period of time that the cleaning roller rotates at a second rotational speed faster than the first rotational speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing including an image forming unit and a discharge tray, and an optional device configured to be removably attached to the main casing. The main casing includes a conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed from the image forming unit, a discharge path through which the sheet is conveyed toward one of the discharge tray and the optional device, the discharge path diverging from the conveying path, and a return path including a first path through which the sheet is conveyed temporarily out of the main casing via an opening formed in the main casing, and a second path through which the sheet is conveyed toward the image forming unit. The first path diverges from the conveying path. The second path diverges from the first path. The optional device is disposed closer to the discharge tray than the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body, a light source, a deflector to deflect a light beam from the light source, a scanning optical system to image the deflected light beam onto the photoconductive body, a developing unit to supply developer to the photoconductive body, an optical sensor to detect the deflected light beam, a moving mechanism to move the developing unit to a first position and to a second position, and a controller configured to start driving the deflector, when the developing unit is in the second position, the light source to emit the light beam, thereby obtaining a detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, and after obtaining the detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, control the moving mechanism to move the developing unit to the first position.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a development cartridge is movable between a contact position in which a development roller is in contact with a photosensitive drum and a separate position in which the development roller is separate from the photosensitive drum, by a cam and a cam follower that is caused to slide in directions parallel to a rotation axis of the cam between a push position in which the development cartridge is pushed by the cam and positioned in the separate position and a no-push position in which the development cartridge is in the contact position. The cam follower includes a first shaft and a contact arm extending from the first shaft and configured to contact a cam surface of the cam. A projection of the first shaft onto the first cam in a direction parallel to the rotation axis is positioned inside a contour of the first cam.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having an image forming device, a reversible roller rotatable in a first direction and a second direction, a motor, a switching assembly, is provided. The switching assembly has a planetary differential gear having an input gear, a first output gear, a second output gear, and a planetary gear; a first driving-force transmitter connecting the first output gear and the reversible roller; a second driving-force transmitter connecting the second output gear and the reversible roller; and a switcher. The switcher switches conditions of the switching assembly between a first condition, wherein the reversible roller is rotated in the first direction by the first output gear allowed to output the driving force to the first driving-force transmitter, and a second condition, wherein the reversible roller is rotated in the second direction by the second output gear allowed to output the driving force to the second driving-force transmitter.

Abstract: A multi-function apparatus employs an in-body sheet discharge type configuration. The image forming device includes a front door and a multi-purpose tray. The front door is movable between a closed position set along a side surface at one side of a case of the image forming device and an opened position opened at the one side with respect to the side surface. The front door has an opening formed therein. The multi-purpose tray is provided to be selectively located at a non-use state at which the multi-purpose tray closes the opening and an in-use position at which the multi-purpose tray opens the opening. When the front door is located at the closed position and the multi-purpose tray is located at the non-use position, an upper end surface of the multi-purpose tray is exposed upward.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer having a conveyer path to convey a sheet therein, a first path and a second path branched from the conveyer path, a flapper, a pair of pivot-shaft portions, and a supporting section, is provided. The flapper is movable between a first position to guide the sheet from the conveyer path to the first path and a second position to guide the sheet from the conveyer path to the second position. The pivot-shaft portions are located apart from each other in a widthwise direction. The pivot-shaft portions support the flapper pivotably. The supporting section is located between the pair of pivot-shaft portions in the widthwise direction. The supporting section supports the flapper pivotably. The supporting section includes a rotation-shaft portion being rotatable, a bearing portion, in which the rotation-shaft portion is fitted, and a buffer member located between the rotation-shaft portion and the bearing portion.

Abstract: A multi-function apparatus employs an in-body sheet discharge type configuration. The image forming device includes a front door and a multi-purpose tray. The front door is movable between a closed position set along a side surface at one side of a case of the image forming device and an opened position opened at the one side with respect to the side surface. The front door has an opening formed therein. The multi-purpose tray is provided to be selectively located at a non-use state at which the multi-purpose tray closes the opening and an in-use position at which the multi-purpose tray opens the opening. When the front door is located at the closed position and the multi-purpose tray is located at the non-use position, an upper end surface of the multi-purpose tray is exposed upward.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a separation mechanism configured to switch a state of the photosensitive drum and the developing roller between a contact state and a separation state; a main memory storing therein a first rotation number and a second rotation number; and a controller configured to perform calculating a deterioration quantity of the photosensitive drum based on the first rotation number and the second rotation number in the main memory. A surface of the developing roller contacts a surface of the photosensitive drum in the contact state, whereas the surface of the developing roller is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum in the separation state. The first rotation number is the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum in the contact state, and the second rotation number is the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum in the separation state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body, a light source, a deflector to deflect a light beam from the light source, a scanning optical system to image the deflected light beam onto the photoconductive body, a developing unit to supply developer to the photoconductive body, an optical sensor to detect the deflected light beam, a moving mechanism to move the developing unit to a first position and to a second position, and a controller configured to start driving the deflector, when the developing unit is in the second position, the light source to emit the light beam, thereby obtaining a detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, and after obtaining the detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, control the moving mechanism to move the developing unit to the first position.

Abstract: A controller is configured to control a print engine and a conveyor to form an image on both sides of a sheet. The controller is configured to: in a case where images to be formed on both sides of each of an Nth (N is a positive integer) sheet, an (N+1)th sheet, and an (N+2)th sheet are all monochrome image or all color image, convey the (N+2)th sheet to the print engine and form an image before forming an image on both sides of the (N+1)th sheet; and in a case where the images to be formed on both sides of each of the Nth sheet, the (N+1)th sheet, and the (N+2)th sheet are a mixture of the monochrome image and the color image, convey the (N+2)th sheet to the print engine and form an image after forming an image on both sides of the (N+1)th sheet.