Abstract:
A gripping mechanism includes a frame and two or more spheres. The frame houses the two or more spheres. At least two spheres of the two or more spheres grip an object. Preferably, the frame includes two or more side plates. The number of the two or more side plates is the same as the number of the two or more spheres. Each of the two or more side plates is inclined toward a center axis of the frame. Each of the two or more spheres is in contact with at least one side plate of the two or more side plates.
Abstract:
A gripping mechanism includes a holder, a gripping roller, and a lever. The gripping roller is housed within the holder and grips an object between the roller and an inner surface of the holder. The lever releases gripping of the object by pushing the gripping roller upward. Preferably, the holder includes two plate sections which support a weight of the gripping roller. An opening is located between the two plate sections. The opening receives insertion of the object. One of the two plate sections is inclined relative to a vertical direction.
Abstract:
A toner case includes a case main body, a supplying port, a collecting port, a supplying shutter, and a collecting shutter. The supplying shutter opens the supplying port in accordance with attachment of the case main body to a supplying attachment part, closes the supplying port in accordance with detachment of the case main body from the supplying attachment part, and closes the supplying port in a state that the case main body is attached to a collecting attachment part. The collecting shutter opens the collecting port in accordance with attachment of the case main body to the collecting attachment part, closes the collecting port in accordance with detachment of the case main body from the collecting attachment part, and closes the collecting port in a state that the case main body is attached to the supplying attachment part.
Abstract:
A toner case includes a case main body and a cleaning member. The case main body is capable of containing a toner supplied to an image forming part arranged inside an apparatus main body and is attachable to and detachable from a supplying attachment part of the apparatus main body along an attachment and detachment direction. The cleaning member is arranged at an outer circumferential face of the case main body. The case main body rotates inside the supplying attachment part in a first direction so as to convey the toner toward a communicating port formed at a first side in the attachment and detachment direction. The cleaning member rotates integrally with the case main body in the first direction so as to clean an inner circumferential face of the supplying attachment part.
Abstract:
A developer conveying mechanism includes a first lateral conveyance path forming portion and a second lateral conveyance path forming portion. The first lateral conveyance path forming portion includes a first conveyance member that is configured to convey developer in a first lateral direction. The second lateral conveyance path forming portion includes a second conveyance member that is configured to convey, in a second lateral direction, the developer that has fallen down from a lower opening of the first lateral conveyance path forming portion. The lower opening is formed such that its width expands from an upstream side to a downstream side in the first lateral direction.
Abstract:
A gripping mechanism (3) includes a gripping roller (32) and a holder (31) that houses the gripping roller (32). A gripped portion (42) of a first component (4) is gripped between an outer surface of the gripping roller (32) and an inner surface of the holder (31) through action of gravity acting on the gripping roller (32). Preferably, the gripping roller (32) includes a core (321) that is cylindrical or columnar in shape and a covering section (322) that is an elastic body covering a circumferential surface of the core (321). Preferably, the covering section (322) has a circumferential surface with a friction coefficient greater than a friction coefficient of the circumferential surface of the core (321).
Abstract:
The fixing device includes an abutting member and an urging member. The abutting member is provided on a sheet conveyance path between a fixing roller pair and a conveying roller pair. The abutting member abuts a surface of a sheet having passed or passing through a separation plate, and the surface faces a heating roller side. The urging member urges the abutting member such that the aforementioned sheet is pressed by the abutting member to a side separated from the separation plate.
Abstract:
A developer conveying mechanism includes a first lateral conveyance path forming portion and a second lateral conveyance path forming portion. The first lateral conveyance path forming portion includes a first conveyance member that is configured to convey developer in a first lateral direction. The second lateral conveyance path forming portion includes a second conveyance member that is configured to convey, in a second lateral direction, the developer that has fallen down from a lower opening of the first lateral conveyance path forming portion. The lower opening is formed such that its width expands from an upstream side to a downstream side in the first lateral direction.
Abstract:
A toner collector includes a housing, an inlet port, a fan, a discharge port, a first upstream side filter, and a downstream side filter. The inlet port is opened in the housing. The fan is disposed in the housing, and intakes and discharges the airflow having flowed in through the inlet port. The discharge port is provided to the fan. The first upstream side filter is disposed on an upstream side of the fan in a direction of the airflow, and captures the toner and allows passage of the airflow. The downstream side filter is disposed on a downstream side of the discharge port in the direction of the airflow, and allows passage of the airflow discharged from the discharge port and captures the toner. The downstream side filter has a larger cross-sectional area of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the airflow than the discharge port.
Abstract:
An assembly apparatus is for assembling a first member and a second member. The assembly apparatus includes a first gripping section, a second gripping section, and a driving section. The first gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The second gripping section includes a contact member and an elastic member. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the contact member of the first gripping section and the contact member of the second gripping section make contact with the second member. The first and second gripping sections grip the second member through the two elastic members urging the respective contact members. The driving section drives the first and second gripping sections such that the first member and the second member are assembled.