Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a cam, a developing motor, a first transmission mechanism, and a second transmission mechanism. The cam moves the developing roller between a contacting position where the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum and a separated position where the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum. The developing motor drives both the developing roller and the cam, and is rotatable in a normal rotating direction and a reverse rotating direction. The first transmission mechanism engages power transmission from the developing motor to the developing roller when the developing motor rotates in the normal rotating direction, and disengages the power transmission when the developing motor rotates in the reverse rotating direction. The second transmission mechanism can engage power transmission from the developing motor to the cam, irrespective of the rotating direction of the developing motor.

Abstract: A controller is configured to, when forming an image on one sheet, in a case where a length of one sheet in a conveyance direction is larger than a first length, drive a moving mechanism to move a plurality of developing rollers from a separation position to a contact position, temporarily stop driving of the moving mechanism, and then, at a first timing, again drive the moving mechanism to move the plurality of developing rollers from the contact position to the separation position; and in a case where the length of the one sheet in the conveyance direction is smaller than or equal to the first length, drive the moving mechanism to move the plurality of developing rollers from the separation position to the contact position and then to move the plurality of developing rollers from the contact position to the separation position without stopping driving of the moving mechanism.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a sheet is guided into a first conveyor path or a second conveyor path selectively when a first cover is in a closed position, and is ejected onto the first cover when the first cover is in an open position. Upon power-up, a controller causes a first conveyor roller to rotate but if the first cover is in the open position, when a sheet sensor detects a sheet, the controller does not cause a second conveyor roller to rotate, and causes a flapper to swing from a first position to a second position, and when a front end of the sheet reaches a position downstream of an upstream end of the flapper in a conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed by the first conveyor roller, the controller causes the flapper to swing from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, a photo-interrupter, and a separation mechanism. The developing roller is movable between a contact position and a separated position. The photo-interrupter includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The separation mechanism includes a cam configured to move the developing roller between the contact position and the separated position. The cam includes a phase detection wall extending in a circumference direction. The phase detection wall has a first slit and a second slit. The first slit allows the light emitted from the light emitting element to pass therethrough when the developing roller is at the separated position. The second slit allows the light emitted from the light emitting element to pass therethrough when the developing roller is at the contact position. A size of the first slit in the circumferential direction is different from that of the second slit.

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: An image forming apparatus, having a casing, a cover, a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a photo-interrupter, a moving mechanism to move the developing roller between a contacting position and a separated position, and a controller, is provided. The moving mechanism has a cam including, a first cam portion, a phase-detector wall including a first slit and a second slit, and a cam follower. When the cover moves from the open position to the closed position, the controller conducts a first initializing control to cause the cam to rotate in a reverse direction, and after detecting the first slit based on a time period, in which light in the photo-interrupter passes through one of the first slit and the second slit, cause the cam to stop rotating.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first developing roller movable between a first contact position and a first separated position; a second developing roller movable between a second contact position and a second separated position; and a controller. When a sheet interval is shorter than a first interval and is longer than or equal to a second interval, the controller maintains the first developing roller at the first contact position even after the completion of its development for a preceding sheet, controls the first developing roller to start development for a subsequent sheet, moves the second developing roller to the second separated position after the completion of its development for the preceding sheet, moves the second developing roller again to the second contact position, and controls the second developing roller to start development for the subsequent sheet after the second developing roller is moved again to the second contact position.

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 cover; and a separation mechanism. The separation mechanism includes a cam; a cam follower; and a release member. The release member is configured to move the cam follower from an operating position to a non-operating position in accordance with movement of the cover from a closed position to an open position. In a state where the cam follower is at the operating position, the cam follower is guided by the cam in accordance with rotation of the cam to allow the cam follower to slidably move between a protruding position and a standby position. In a state where the cam follower is at the non-operating position, the cam follower is not guided by the cam to allow the cam follower to be maintained at the standby position independently of the rotation of the cam.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a cam, a developing motor, a first transmission mechanism, and a second transmission mechanism. The cam moves the developing roller between a contacting position where the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum and a separated position where the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum. The developing motor drives both the developing roller and the cam, and is rotatable in a normal rotating direction and a reverse rotating direction. The first transmission mechanism engages power transmission from the developing motor to the developing roller when the developing motor rotates in the normal rotating direction, and disengages the power transmission when the developing motor rotates in the reverse rotating direction. The second transmission mechanism can engage power transmission from the developing motor to the cam, irrespective of the rotating direction of the developing motor.

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 conveying device includes a sheet supporting portion, a first lever pivotable by contact with a sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion, a hook movable together with the first lever, a first cam configured to, when engaging the hook, stop rotating in a rotation direction of the first cam, a spring configured to urge the first cam in a rotation direction, a sector gear rotatable together with the first cam, a drive gear configured to, when engaging the sector gear, transmit a drive force to the sector gear, a feed roller rotatable in contact with the sheet, and a drive mechanism configured to receive a drive force from the sector gear and move one of the feed roller and the sheet supporting portion toward the other of the feed roller and the sheet supporting portion, to increase contact pressure between the feed roller and the sheet.

Abstract: A first transport unit transports, along a first path, a sheet transported from an image forming unit. A second transport unit transports the sheet along a second transport path branched from a junction with the first transport path. A first cover, when open, holds the sheet transported to an exterior of a housing and, when closed, partially constitutes the second transport unit. A flap is disposed at the junction and, when at a first position, blocks the second transport path and guides the sheet along the first transport path and, when at a second position, blocks the first transport path and guides the sheet along the second transport path. A drive unit moves the flap between the first position and the second position. A moving mechanism moves away from the flap in response to closing of the first cover, and pushes and moves the flap to the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first transport unit, a second transport unit, a cover, a flap, a drive unit for moving the flap, a first sensor for detecting opening and closing of the cover, a second sensor for detecting a position of a sheet, and a controller. The controller switches the drive unit to move the flap to the second position, upon determining it is necessary to move the flap to the second position, subsequent to determining that the cover is opened based on a detection result by the first sensor. The controller switches the drive unit to move the flap from the second position to the first position, upon determining, based on a detection result by the second sensor, that a leading edge of the sheet reaches a position downstream, in a sheet transport direction, of a swing end portion of the flap at the second position.

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 casing; a cover; a locked portion provided at one of the casing and the cover; and a locking portion provided at remaining one of the casing and the cover. The locking portion includes: a first pivot member; a second pivot member spaced apart from the first pivot member; and a third pivot member. Each of the first pivot member and the second pivot member is pivotally movable between an engaging position and a release position about a first axis. The third pivot member is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position about a second axis. Pivotal movement of at least one of the first pivot member, the second pivot member, and the third pivot member causes pivotal movement of the remaining of the first pivot member, the second pivot member, and the third pivot member.

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 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 conveying device includes a sheet supporting portion, a first lever pivotable by contact with a sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion, a hook movable together with the first lever, a first cam configured to, when engaging the hook, stop rotating in a rotation direction of the first cam, a spring configured to urge the first cam in a rotation direction, a sector gear rotatable together with the first cam, a drive gear configured to, when engaging the sector gear, transmit a drive force to the sector gear, a feed roller rotatable in contact with the sheet, and a drive mechanism configured to receive a drive force from the sector gear and move one of the feed roller and the sheet supporting portion toward the other of the feed roller and the sheet supporting portion, to increase contact pressure between the feed roller and the sheet.

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.