Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.

Kyocera Mita Corporation

Yukihiro Ito

Mitsuharu Yoshimoto

Takashi Kondo

Yutaka Shigemura

Yoshifumi Okauchi

Junichi Oura

Satoshi Yano

Hideo Umezawa

Naoyuki Ishida

Shoji Hirano

Takahisa Nakaue

Masahiko Miyazaki

Tetsuya Ichigotani

Hideki Kitagawa

Hiroshi Wada

Satoru Yonemoto

Yoshitake Miyoshi

Takashi Miyake

Seiichi Shirasaki

Koji Kuramashi

Susumu Hanano

Hiroaki Iwasaki

Tadahiro Kiyosumi

Ryoji Nishimura

Toshihiko Watanabe

Takeshi Sakaguchi

Masanobu Takahashi

Kiyoshi Hayashi

Yasuyuki Hirai

Hideki Takeda

Yukikatsu Imanaka

Kotaro Kawasaki

Junichi Inada

Mitsuo Ihara

Susumu Takehara

Shinsuke Kawashima

Eijiro Masaki

Sinji Yamamoto

Toshiyuki Takahashi

An image forming apparatus has a unit in which at least an expendable component is incorporated. The unit is reusable by periodically replacing the expendable component. An indicator for indicating a record on use of the unit is attached to a given position on the unit. The record on use can be associated, for example, with one or more of the number of times of re-using the unit, a period lapsed from start of use of the unit, and the total number of times of using the unit with respect to image formation.

Image forming apparatus having reusable unit and reusable unit with indicator of record on use

In a developing device according to the present invention, a developing roller has a fixed shaft and a sleeve . The length of a draw-up magnetic pole N provided in the fixed shaft is made shorter than the length of a main magnetic pole N . Accordingly, the amount of a developer adhering to both ends of an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve is reduced, so that the density of the developer at both the ends of the sleeve is maintained in suitable conditions in a state where the developer is over the main magnetic pole N

Developing device for preventing thickening of the developer at both ends of a sleeve

In a copying machine which is an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, an air fan and an air duct on the downstream side thereof are provided in a housing , to lead an air current to an opening of an image forming unit through the air duct The opening is for passing a light beam from a light irradiating unit and is also used for blowing off air, to lead the air current to the photosensitive drum A rib is provided in the vicinity of the opening in the housing to efficiently guide the air current to the opening without varying the air current. The air current disperses ozone or the like in an area surrounding the photosensitive drum

Image forming apparatus with a housing diffusing ozone

An image-forming machine has a sheet member conveying passage extending through a transfer zone and a fixing zone, a sheet member-feeder for feeding a sheet member to the sheet member conveying passage, and a sheet member conveyor for conveying the sheet member through the sheet member conveying passage. A housing of the image-forming machine has a lower surface defined by an intermediate lower wall and an upper surface defined by an intermediate upper wall, and has a space of which the front surface is opened. The downstream end portion of the sheet member conveying passage extends along one side portion of the intermediate lower wall on the lower side thereof. That one side portion of the intermediate lower wall is defined by an opening/closing member which is brought to the open position to open the downstream end portion of the sheet member conveying passage. The sheet member conveyer includes a pair of register rollers. After the leading edge of the sheet member delivered to the sheet member conveying passage is brought into contact with the nip of the pair of register rollers, the pair of register rollers are preliminarily rotated for only a predetermined period of time.

Image-forming machine capable of opening to permit ready access to

An image forming apparatus is readily provided with an additional function besides its principal function and therefore is adupted for function expansion. A control operation for the additional function is enabled on condition that a component required for the actuation of the additional function is attached to the image forming apparatus. The principal function may be a copying function, and the additional function may be a facsimile function. The component for the function expansion is preferably constructed so as to be snap attached to the image forming apparatus.

Function-expandable image forming apparatus

An image-forming machine comprises a sheet member conveying passage extending through a transfer zone and a fixing zone, a sheet member-feeding means for feeding a sheet member onto the sheet member conveying passage, and a sheet member conveying means for conveying the sheet member through the sheet member conveying passage. A housing of the image-forming machine has a lower surface defined by an intermediate lower wall and an upper surface defined by an intermediate upper wall, and forms a space of which the front surface is opened. The downstream end portion of the sheet member conveying passage extends along a one side portion of the intermediate lower wall on the lower side thereof. The one side portion of the intermediate lower wall is defined by the opening/closing member, and opening/closing member is brought to the open position to open the downstream end portion of the sheet member conveying passage. The sheet member conveying means includes a pair of register rollers. After the leading edge of the sheet member delivered onto the sheet member conveying passage is brought into contact with the nip of the pair of register rollers, the pair of register rollers are preliminarily rotated for only a predetermined period of time.

Image-forming machine

An image forming machine having a transfer roller comprises a rotatably disposed photoconductor drum, a transfer roller disposed opposite the photoconductor drum with a predetermined gap provided therebetween, a register roller pair for feeding a transfer sheet toward a transfer area where the photoconductor drum and the transfer roller are opposed to each other, transfer sheet guide means disposed between the register roller pair and the transfer area, and a fixing roller pair for fixing a toner image transferred to the transfer sheet passing through the transfer area. The transfer sheet guide means comprises an inner guide plate and an outer guide plate, and the inner guide plate has a linear guide portion extending toward a predetermined position on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum. The predetermined position is set in an angular range (.theta.) covering 12.degree. to 23.degree. upstream, in the direction of rotation of the photoconductor drum, from a line connecting the center of rotation of the photoconductor drum to the center of rotation of the transfer roller, while the linear guide portion of the inner guide plate forms an angle (.alpha.) with a tangent to the photoconductor drum at the predetermined position, the angle (.alpha.) being set at 19.degree. to 30.degree..

Image forming machine with transfer roller

An imaging unit includes a developer unit which is supported rotatably about a predetermined rotation axis thereof by means of a drum unit. Spacing regulation sleeves are respectively fitted around opposite ends of a support shaft of a developer roller for regulating a spacing between the photoreceptor drum and the developer roller. A driven gear is engaged with one end of the support shaft of the developer roller for integral rotation thereof, and adapted to be driven by a drive transmission gear. By utilizing a driving force applied to the driven gear, the developer unit is biased about the rotation axis to press one spacing regulation sleeve fitted around one end of the support shaft of the developer roller against the photoreceptor drum. The other spacing regulation sleeve fitted around the other end of the support shaft of the developer roller is resiliently pressed against the photoreceptor drum by means of a resilient member.

Imaging unit

A device is disclosed for use with an image-forming apparatus, and includes a binder receiving portion for receiving a binder having papers and an adhesive therein, and a heating member for causing heating and melting of the adhesive in the binder when the binder is fully inserted in the binder receiving portion in order to adhere the papers in the binder. The heating member includes a contact element mounted in a bottom portion of the binder receiving portion and adapted to be contacted against by a contact portion of the binder. A power supply is provided to operate the heating member. A paper supply table is mounted to the binder receiving portion for use in feeding paper into the image-forming apparatus, and the paper supply table includes paper regulating guides which are adjustable in their relative positions to guide different sized papers into the image-forming apparatus. A power adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting a total amount of power to be provided to the heating member by the power supply during a bookbinding operation in order to regulate a total calorific value of heat provided to melt the adhesive, in dependence on the relative positions of the paper regulating guides of the paper supply table.

Image-forming apparatus provided with bookbinding device

Near a discharge device (48) for discharging paper (P) with an image formed thereon, there is provided a punch (7) for punching holes. The drive of the discharge device (48) is controlled so that the punch punches the punch holes in the trailing portion of the paper (P), without causing creasing or tearing or change in the quality of the paper (P). The punch (7) includes punching cutters (72) and a punching die (74). The punching cutters (72) and the punching die (74) are provided in a unit (U) which can be drawn out of a casing (1) covering the punch (7). With the unit (U) drawn out of the casing (1), jam recovery can be easily executed. The unit (U) is movable in the width direction of the paper (P), thereby making it possible to adjust the position of punched holes. A collecting box (76) for collecting paper scraps (P1) is disposed in the unit (U). If the collecting box (76) is pivoted or the opening (76a) thereof is lifted up when the unit (U) is pivoted, the paper scraps (P1) therein will not fall out. Delaying timing for plural punching cutters (72) to punch holes can reduce the load on the drive system.

Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus includes a main part for image formation, a printing unit, a supporter, a pressing member and a punching unit. The main part for image formation includes an image processor, and a case for containing the image processor which has a door. The printing unit prints onto a sheet processed by the image processor. The printing unit includes a thermal head and a cleaning device. The supporter supports the printing unit such that the printing unit is able to rotate between a printing position, at which the printing unit is contained in the main part, and a replacing position, at which the printing unit is located near the door. The printer unit is formed such that the cleaning device cleans the thermal head when the printer unit is moved to the replacing position. The pressing member is provided on the door in order to move the printing unit into the printing position by pressing the supporter in cooperation with the door's closing. To protect the printing unit, the apparatus also includes a insulation chamber connected at one end to a fan, with vent holes occurring at increasing intervals further away from the fan.

Image forming apparatus having a thermal printing device

An image-forming apparatus is provided with a bookbinding device having a binder receiving portion. The binder receiving portion is provided with a heat source for heating an adhesive or with an electrode for electrifying the electric heating member on a bottom portion thereof so that a plurality of papers disposed in a binder can be adhered to the inner surface of the back cover of the binder by heating and melting the adhesive with the heat source or the electric heating member. The heat source or electrode is swingably mounted in the binder receiving portion for movement between a bookbinding position and a retracted position. An operating mechanism is provided for moving the heat source or electrode from the retracted position to the bookbinding position upon insertion of the binder into the binder receiving portion.

An image-forming apparatus is provided with a bookbinding device having a binder receiving portion. The binder receiving portion is provided with a heat source for heating an adhesive or with an electrode for electrifying the electric heating member on a bottom portion thereof so that a plurality of papers disposed in a binder can be adhered to the inner surface of the back cover of the binder by heating and melting the adhesive with the heat source or the electric heating member. The binder receiving portion is provided with a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the heat source or electrode, and an operating mechanism for causing the cleaning mechanism to clean the heat source or electrode either when the binder receiving portion is pivoted from a non-use position to a use position or when a binder is inserted into the binder receiving portion. The operating mechanism operates by either moving the cleaning mechanism across the heat source or electrode, or moving the heat source or electrode across the cleaning mechanism.

An image forming apparatus having a main body with an opening portion provided in one face of the main body, and a thermal transfer printer. The thermal transfer printer records desired information additively on paper on which a toner image has been fixed. The printer uses a thermal head to press an ink-ribbon on the paper. The thermal transfer printer includes a casing in which a cassette for housing the ink-ribbon is detachably mounted, a thermal head support for supporting the thermal head, and an interlocking mechanism. The interlocking mechanism retracts the thermal head with the thermal head support in response to retraction of the casing. Thus, it is possible to detach the cassette from the main body through the opening portion. This facilitates replacement of cassettes and clearing of paper jams.

Electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a thermal printer for

An image-forming apparatus is provided with a bookbinding device having a binder receiving portion. The binder receiving portion is provided with a heat source for heating an adhesive or with an electrode for electrifying the electric heating member on a bottom portion thereof so that a plurality of papers disposed in a binder can be adhered to the inner surface of the back cover of the binder by heating and melting the adhesive with the heat source or the electric heating member. A binder-insertion hole of the binder receiving portion is provided with a cover to prevent foreign matter from entering the binder receiving portion.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Yukihiro Ito