Image forming apparatus

摘要

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet container, an image forming part to form an image, a sheet feeding rotary body to feed the recording medium, a sheet separating rotary body to contact the sheet feeding rotary body and rotate with the sheet feeding rotary body with a sheet separation nip region formed therebetween, a rotation adjusting unit to adjust rotation of the sheet separating rotary body, a sheet containing unit to contain the recording media therein, a sheet separating body storing unit disposed at one end of the sheet containing unit to store the sheet separating body therein, and a load resistance applying mechanism to apply a rotational load resistance different from a contact force generated by contacting of the sheet separating rotary body with the sheet feeding rotary body, to the sheet feeding rotary body with no rotation driving force applied thereto.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an apparatus body; a sheet container detachably attachable to the apparatus body, the sheet container configured to accommodate recording media therein; an image forming part configured to form an image on each of the recording media accommodated in the sheet container; a sheet feeding rotary body configured to rotate about a rotary shaft thereof and feed the recording media from the sheet container; a sheet separating rotary body connected to the sheet container and detachably attachable to the apparatus body together with the sheet container, the sheet separating rotary body contacting the sheet feeding rotary body and rotating about a rotary shaft thereof with the sheet feeding rotary body with a sheet separation nip region formed therebetween; and a load resistance applying mechanism configured to apply a rotational load to the sheet feeding rotary body to resist rotation of the sheet feeding rotary body in response to a contact force generated when the sheet container is inserted in the apparatus body such that the sheet separating rotary body comes into contact with the sheet feeding rotary body while a driving motor does not apply a rotation driving force to the sheet feeding rotary body, the load resistance applying mechanism including a pressing unit to press against the rotary shaft of the sheet feeding rotary body to apply a rotational load resistance to the sheet feeding rotary body, wherein
the sheet container is configured to pull out from the image forming apparatus through an end of the main body at which the separating rotary body is located during operation such that the sheet separation nip region is released when the sheet container is pulled out from the image forming apparatus.