IP Library Granted Patent US 9,150,372
Granted Patent B2
US 9,150,372 · App. 13/975,432 · Granted Oct 6, 2015

Image forming apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,150,372
App. No.
13/975,432
Granted
Oct 6, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a device main body, a detachable unit that is detachable and attachable to the device main body, a sheet guide that guides a pathway of sheet, and a guide position part that regulates a position of the sheet guide. The guide position part is disposed in the device main body, the sheet guide is disposed movably with respect to the detachable unit, and when the detachable unit is mounted on the device main body, a position of the sheet guide is regulated by abutting the guide position part.

Claims (70)

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a device main body that includes a guide position part;

a detachable unit that is detachable and attachable to the device main body; and

a sheet guide that is rotatably attached to the detachable unit and that guides a pathway of sheet,

wherein the guide position part regulates a position of the sheet guide,

when the detachable unit is mounted on the device main body, a position of the sheet guide is regulated by abutting the guide position part,

the device main body further comprises

a sheet carrying direction regulation part that regulates a position of the detachable unit in a sheet carrying direction,

a unit direction regulation part that regulates a position of the detachable unit in a detachable/attachable direction of the detachable unit, and

the detachable unit comprises a first engagement part that engages the sheet carrying direction regulation part and a second engagement part that engages the unit direction regulation part.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the detachable unit comprises a first lever position part and a second lever position part,

the first lever position part contacting the sheet guide at a first position, and

a second lever position part contacting the sheet guide at a second position that is different from the first position.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

when the detachable unit is installed in the device main body, the sheet guide contacts the guide position part at a third position that is between the first position and the second position.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the detachable unit includes a bias part that biases the sheet guide in a direction from a second position towards a first position.

5. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a device main body that includes a guide position part;

a detachable unit that is detachable and attachable to the device main body; and

a sheet guide that is rotatably attached to the detachable unit and that guides a pathway of sheet, the sheet guide rotatable about a rotational axis;

wherein the guide position part regulates a position of the sheet guide,

when the detachable unit is mounted on the device main body, a position of the sheet guide is regulated by abutting the guide position part,

a part of the sheet guide is configured as a handle part of the detachable unit,

the sheet guide includes a guide part that contacts the sheet, and

the guide part is positioned between and abutment position between the sheet guide and the guide position part, and the rotational axis of the sheet guide.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the detachable unit comprises a first lever position part and a second lever position part,

the first lever position part contacting the sheet guide at a first position, and

a second lever position part contacting the sheet guide at a second position that is different from the first position.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

when the detachable unit is installed in the device main body, the sheet guide contacts the guide position part at a third position that is between the first position and the second position.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a detection member that detects a tip of a sheet, wherein

when the detachable unit is mounted in the device main body and when the sheet guide contacts the guide position part, the detection member is positioned perpendicularly below an area in which the sheet guide regulates an image forming surface side of the sheet when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the sheet carrying direction.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a detection member that detects a tip of a sheet, wherein

when the detachable unit is mounted in the device main body and when the sheet guide contacts the guide position part, the detection member is positioned perpendicularly below an area in which the sheet guide regulates an image forming surface side of the sheet when viewed in a direction orthogonal to a sheet carrying direction.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the sheet guide includes a plurality of guide parts that guides the sheet by contacting the sheet, and

the handle part is positioned between adjacent guide parts.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the detachable unit includes a bias part that biases the sheet guide in a direction from the second position towards the first position.

12. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a device main body:

a detachable unit that is detachable and attachable to the device main body;

a sheet guide that guides a pathway of sheet; and

a guide position part that regulates a position of the sheet guide, wherein

the guide position part is disposed in the device main body,

the sheet guide is disposed movably with respect to the detachable unit,

when the detachable unit is mounted on the device main body, a position of the sheet guide is regulated by abutting the guide position part,

the detachable unit comprises a first lever position part and a second lever position part,

the first lever position part contacting the sheet guide at a first position, and

the second lever position part contacting the sheet guide at a second position that is different from the first position.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein

the sheet guide is disposed rotatably and movably around a shaft part that is disposed in the detachable unit.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein

when the detachable unit is installed in the device main body, the sheet guide contacts the guide position part at a third position that is between the first position and the second position.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a detection member that detects a tip of a sheet, wherein

when the detachable unit is mounted in the device main body and when the sheet guide contacts the guide position part, the detection member is positioned perpendicularly below an area in which the sheet guide regulates an image forming surface side of the sheet when viewed in a direction orthogonal to a sheet carrying direction.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein

the detection member is disposed at an upstream side in the sheet carrying direction of the sheet with respect to the detachable unit.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein

the sheet guide is disposed on the detachable unit freely rotatably about a rotational axis,

the sheet guide includes a position lever that protrudes in a predeterminded direction from the rotational axis, and

an angle θ 2 formed by a horizontal line and the position lever at the second position is larger than an angle θ 1 formed by the horizontal line and the position lever at the first position.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein

the detachable unit includes a bias part that biases the sheet guide in a direction from a second position towards a first position.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: OKI DATA CORPORATION
To: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059365/0145 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2013
From: MATSUMOTO, KEIGO
To: OKI DATA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031078/0260 →