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.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes: a second conveyance belt disposed on an upstream side of a first conveyance belt in a sheet conveyance direction; a second absorption section configured to absorb the sheet stored in the sheet storage section to suck the sheet on the second conveyance belt; and a control section configured to perform a stopping operation for stopping at least one of a conveyance operation of the second conveyance belt and an absorption operation of the second absorption section during a conveyance operation of the first conveyance belt.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a supporting portion and a feeding unit. The supporting portion supports a sheet and is capable of being drawn out from and being attached to an apparatus body. The feeding unit is provided in the apparatus body and includes a feeding portion, a conveyance portion, a separation unit, and a guide member. The feeding portion feeds the sheet supported by the supporting portion. The conveyance portion conveys the sheet. The separation unit forms a separation nip with the conveyance portion and is detachable from the feeding unit. The guide member includes a guide surface and a lower surface. The guide surface guides the sheet to the separation nip. The lower surface is provided below the guide surface and includes an exposing portion exposing at least a part of the separation unit.

Provided are an image forming apparatus and methods for controlling the apparatus, which includes a central processing unit (CPU) configured to set whether to operate an air blowing fan before a paper type detection sensor detects a type of sheet. In a case where a setting to blow the air is made by the CPU, the air blowing fan blows the air when a sheet feed unit feeds the sheet before the paper type detection sensor detects the type of the sheet. In a case where a setting not to blow the air is made by the CPU, the air blowing fan does not blow the air when the sheet feed unit feeds the sheet before the paper type detection sensor detects the sheet type.

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.

An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.

A sheet characteristic detection device includes: a detector that is disposed on a sheet ejection path through which a sheet is ejected and that detects an electrical resistance value of the sheet; and a charge neutralizer that is disposed on a downstream side of the detector on the sheet ejection path and that neutralizes electric charge on the sheet.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a developing separation mechanism. The image forming unit includes an image carrier and a developing device. The developing device includes a developing member and movable in a developing position where the developing member is in contact with the image carrier and a separated position where the developing member is separated away from the image carrier, and is configured to be drawn out from an apparatus main body. The developing separation mechanism includes an arm member configured to interfere with the developing device from a downstream side of a draw-out direction so as to move the developing device from the developing position to the separated position, and to be turned to an upstream side of the draw-out direction by the image forming unit when the image forming unit is drawn out and then be separated from the developing device.

A sheet feeding device includes a sheet tray, a feeder to feed the uppermost sheet of a sheet bundle supported by a supporting surface of the sheet tray; a blowing portion provided on one side in a widthwise direction perpendicular to a feeding direction and to blow air through a blowing opening toward a side edge of the sheet bundle supported by the supporting surface; and a rotatable portion. The rotatable portion is rotatably provided opposite to the blowing opening in the widthwise direction and to the sheet tray, and is rotatable between a first position along the supporting surface and a second position rotated upward from the supporting surface by the air being blown by the blowing portion. When the rotatable portion is positioned in the second position, the rotatable portion includes a restricting portion to restrict the air from being blown to the supporting surface.

A sheet conveyance device includes a rotating member that rotates while in contact with a sheet to convey the sheet, and a cleaning portion that cleans the rotating member. The cleaning portion has a cleaning member that makes contact with the outer circumferential surface of the rotating member to remove foreign substances from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating member and a housing that stores the foreign substances removed from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating member. A part of the housing is arranged at a position where it can make contact with the sheet, and guides the sheet conveyed by the rotating member.