Abstract:
A sheet feeding device for use in an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet support plate and one or more rotary members for separating and feeding sheets. A recessed portion is formed on the sheet support plate in a position opposing to each rotary member. A detachable auxiliary member is provided to be fitted in the recess to form a plane coplanar with that of the sheet support plate. An engaging device can be provided, to engage with a step portion formed in a cassette housing portion of the apparatus to keep the cassette from being entirely removed from the housing. The engaging device may, for example, include an elastic part and an engaging part integrally molded with each other.
Abstract:
An automatic original feeding apparatus has a coordinates position detecting device provided with a supporting table for supporting thereon a sheet original of which the area during image formation is to be designated, a conveying device for directing the inserted sheet original to a predetermined position, and a feed device provided upstream of the conveying device and responsive to the termination of the area designation to change over to a feeding position and feed the sheet original on the supporting table to the conveying device.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a cassette loading device for an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding portion within which a cassette for accommodating sheets is loaded, and a sheet feeding device arranged in the sheet feeding portion and adapted to feed the sheet from the cassette loaded within the sheet feeding portion. The cassette loading device has a guide for guiding the cassette to be loaded; a cassette shifting device rotatable along the guide means and having pins engageable with the cassette inserted into the sheet feeding portion; a driver for driving the cassette shifting device; vertical surfaces formed in the cassette and against which the pins are abutted to shift the cassette; and horizontal recesses formed in the cassette and adapted to direct the pins toward the vertical surfaces. The present invention further provides an image forming apparatus which includes an image forming apparatus for forming an image on the sheet being fed, and the above-mentioned cassette loading device.
Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes sheet accommodating cassette for accommodating sheets, a device for forming images on the sheets, a first sheet conveying passage for conveying the sheet to the image forming device from the sheet accommodating cassette, a conveyor for accommodating a bundle of sheets having been subjected to an image forming operation by the image forming means at first sides thereof in a form in which leading edges of the sheets are gradually deviated in a sheet advancement direction, and for conveying the bundle as a whole, a feeder, disposed downstream of the conveyor with respect to the sheet advancement direction, for feeding one by one the sheets of the bundle from the sheet closest to the feeder, a second sheet conveying passage merging into the first passage for refeeding to the image forming device the sheets fed by the feeder, and a confining device for confining the sheets of the bundle other than the sheet being fed by the feeder.
Abstract:
A document feeding apparatus comprising a first original supporting device on which an original is placed, an original inlet port for receiving the original placed on the first original supporting device, a conveying device for guiding the original fed from the inlet port to a predetermined position and exhausting the original from the predetermined position, and a second original supporting device mounted on a housing of the document feeding apparatus and having an image area designation device for designating an image area of the original. In an image area designation mode of the apparatus, the original is placed on the image area designation device, a desired image area is designated, and the original is placed on the first original supporting device and is guided to the predetermined position through the inlet port.
Abstract:
A sheet stacking device and an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet stacking device. The sheet stacking device has a sheet sorting function, and in addition, sheet re-feeding function so as to make it possible to produce a duplex copy or superimposed copy. It is further possible to use the sorter portion as a sheet feeding facility.
Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of the developing devices for developing the latent image formed on an image bearing member. The plural developing devices are each movable between its developing position for developing the latent image on the image bearing member and its retracted position away from the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus includes a shutter for selectively opening and closing the developing aperture of the developing device of one of the developing devices. The shutter opens and closes the developing aperture of said one of the developing devices in association with movement of the other developing device between the developing position and the retracted position.
Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, image forming station for forming a latent image on the image bearing member, a conveying passage extending toward the image bearing member to guide a developing device, a first moving mechanism for engaging with the developing device in the conveying passage and moving it in a substantially horizontal plane, wherein the image bearing member, the latent image forming station, the conveying passage and the first moving mechanism are provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus, a device for accommodating a plurality of developing devices. The accommodating device is mounted to the main body, the accommodating device includes, a second moving mechanism for moving the developing device opposed to the conveying passage into the conveying passage in a substantially horizontal plane and an accommodating case having partition stages arranged substantially vertically for accommodating plural developing devices and movable together with the developing devices accommodated therein, and a driver for transmitting a driving force selectively to the first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism and the accommodating case.
Abstract:
An image forming apparatus for forming a developed image includes a developing device for developing an image on an image bearing member, a passage along which the developing device is movable continuously between an inside position where the developing device is inside the apparatus and an outside position where the developing device is at least partly outside the apparatus, a driver for automatically moving the developing device along the passage and one or more pressing members for pressing the developing device toward the image bearing member. The driver includes a driving source and transmission which are operative to move the developing device in response to the opening of a cover which covers an inlet to the passage.
Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes accommodating assembly for accommodating a plurality of developing devices on stages arranged substantially vertically and having first driving mechanism for moving the developing devices in a substantially horizontal plane, an image formation assembly for receiving selected one of the developing devices moved out of the accommodating assembly and for further moving it in a substantially horizontal plane, the image formation assembly including systems for forming images using the developing device, the accommodating assembly further including an opening for allowing a the developing device to be loaded into the accommodating assembly.