Abstract:
In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape.
Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes: a developing unit; a housing section; a detecting unit; a protective member; and a displacement mechanism. The developing unit that houses a developer. The housing section removably houses the developing unit. The detecting unit is disposed in the housing section and detects developing unit information which is information on the developing unit, from the developing unit. The protective member is configured to be capable of displacing from a first arrangement protecting the detecting unit from surroundings of the detecting unit to a second arrangement allowing the detecting unit to detect the developing unit information. When the developing unit is mounted in the housing section, the displacement mechanism supplies the protective member with power to displace the protective member from the first arrangement to the second arrangement.
Abstract:
A charger includes a frame and a cover member, together defining an internal space. A discharge wire for producing a discharge for a photosensitive drum is disposed within the internal space. A cleaner for cleaning the discharge wire is also disposed within the internal space. When the cover member is open, a user accesses the cleaner and slides the cleaner on the discharge wire, thereby cleaning the discharge wire.
Abstract:
In an image forming apparatus, a sensing body is disposed at a first position when a cartridge has been removed from an apparatus body, is disposed at a second position when a first part of the sensing body contacts a housing of the cartridge that has been mounted in the apparatus body, and is disposed at a third position when a second part of the sensing body contacts a movable member of the cartridge that has been mounted in the apparatus body. A judging unit determines that the cartridge has been removed from the apparatus body if the sensing body is at the first position, determines that the cartridge has been mounted in the apparatus body if the sensing body is at the second position, and determines that the cartridge is a new product if the sensing body is at the third position.
Abstract:
An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a controller configured to switch a circumferential velocity of a development roller from a second circumferential velocity to a first circumferential velocity no later than when development of a photoconductive drum is started and to switch the circumferential velocity of the development roller from the first circumferential velocity to the second circumferential velocity after the development of the photoconductive drum is completed.
Abstract:
An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a controller configured to determine a moment for switching a circumferential velocity of a development roller to a first circumferential velocity from a second circumferential velocity lower than the first circumferential velocity based on a moment when the controller issues to a sheet feeding unit an instruction to start feeding of a sheet, and to determine a moment for switching the circumferential velocity of the development roller to the second circumferential velocity from the first circumferential velocity based on a moment when a first detector detects existence of the sheet ejected from a registration roller.
Abstract:
An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a swing member swinging between a first position where a force for moving a pressing plate upward is transmitted to the pressing plate and a second position where transmission of the force is interrupted, a latchet mechanism that forbids the pressing plate to move downward and includes a latchet gear rotating in conjunction with a motion of the pressing plate and a latching member that is movably attached to the swing member and configured to forbid rotation of the latchet gear by engaging with the latchet gear, and a pressing member that applies a pressing force to the latching member when the swing member is in the second position and does not apply the pressing force to the latching member, and render the latching member movable relative to the swing member when the swing member is in the first position.
Abstract:
In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape.
Abstract:
A fixing device for fixing a developed image of developer onto a recording sheet by heating and fusing the developer includes a heating roller, a pressure roller and a driving force input element. The heating roller is configured to be heated by a heat source, such as a halogen heater. The pressure roller is disposed adjacent to the heating roller, such that a recording sheet is fed and conveyed between the pressure roller and the heating roller. The driving force input element is fixed to the pressure roller for causing the pressure roller to rotate. A diameter Dp of the pressure roller and a nip width N between the heating roller and the pressure roller in circumferential directions thereof have a relationship represented by the following expression: 0.24
Abstract:
A fixing device has a frame, a heating roller, a press roller, a peeler, a guide member, and a wheel. The heating roller includes a roller rotation axis and a cylindrical surface. The press roller is pressed against the cylindrical surface to feed a recording medium together with the heating roller along a feeding path. The peeler has a peeling surface having a leading edge, where the peeling surface faces the feeding path. The guide member faces the peeling surface to guide the recording medium to downstream of the feeding path. The guide member is movable between a near position and a far position relative to the peeling surface. The wheel is positioned in a manner that a part of the circumferential edge protrudes from the peeling surface to the guiding member in a virtual plane perpendicular to the wheel rotation axis.