The invention backups job data, and detects and predicts the occurrence of trouble in a storage device. A gateway registers job data registered in a HDD and vibration-detection information of a vibration-detection sensor received from a user terminal in a memory, and then transmits the job data to a MFP. The MFP registers the job data in a HDD, and according to a request from the gateway, transmits the job data registered in the HDD and vibration-detection information of a vibration-detection sensor to the gateway. The gateway compares the data amount of when the job data is registered in the memory and the data amount of the job data from the gateway, and when there is a difference, registers trouble information related to the HDD in the memory.

A flexible display panel and a flexible display device are disclosed. Through disposing multiple additional supporting structures at at least one location of an upper location, a lower location and an internal location of the substrate and the packaging layer, a flat display surface for displaying a high quality picture, easily to be mounted on the wall and easily maintaining a status after bending are provided. Besides, a good bendable performance can be achieved such that the internal devices are not easily to be bent when bending.

A sheet conveying device, which is included in an image reading device and an image forming apparatus, includes a passage forming body and a sound absorber. The passage forming body is configured to define a sheet conveying passage through which a sheet passes. The sound absorber includes a hollow portion and a communication portion configured to communication the hollow portion and the sheet conveying passage. A position of the communication portion of the sound absorber is changeable in the sheet conveying passage. The sheet conveying device included in the image reading device includes an original document conveying device configured to convey an original document having an image on a surface. The sheet conveying device included in the image forming apparatus includes a recording medium conveying device configured to convey the recording medium accommodated in a recording medium container to the image forming device.

In order to mitigate image defects caused by unwanted disturbances as a carriage module travels from a continuous velocity transport module across a CVT ramp to a platen module, a bottom surface of the CVT ramp is recessed relative to bottom surfaces of the CVT glass and platen glass to facilitate a smooth transition as the CIS carriage passes the CVT ramp during scanning. An additional carriage button is also provided on the carriage surface to ensure that at least two carriage buttons are biased against the CVT-platen assembly at all times, thereby mitigating vibrational disturbance in the system during scanning motion. The carriage module may be a contact image sensor (CIS) carriage module, a Full Width Array (FWA) carriage module, or a folded Charged Coupled Device (CCD) carriage module.

An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a cover, and a hinge mechanism connecting the cover to the reading unit pivotably about a pivot axis which extends in a first direction. A center of gravity of the cover is closer to a first end of the cover in a first direction than to a second end of the cover. A first hinge is spaced from the center of gravity toward the second end of the cover in the first direction. A second hinge is disposed closer to the center of gravity in the first direction than the first hinge. The first hinge includes a base member disposed movably in the reading unit, a pivot member coupled to the cover, and an urging member exerting an urging force between the base member and the pivot member so as to maintain the cover at a pivoted position.

A paper feed apparatus includes a paper feeding roller and a separating pad for separating paper one by one and feeding the paper. This separating pad is supported by a separating pad holder to be abutted onto the paper feeding roller with a predetermined pressure. Furthermore, the separating pad holder is provided with a weight member in a loosely-fitted state.

An image reading apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to move, a first driven pulley and a second driven pulley disposed apart from each other in a movement direction of the sensor unit, a drive pulley and a third driven pulley disposed between the first driven pulley and the second driven pulley in the movement direction, and a belt wound around the first driven pulley, the second driven pulley, the drive pulley, and the third driven pulley. The belt is bent at positions where each of the first driven pulley, the second driven pulley, and the drive pulley contacts an inner surface of the belt and is bent at a position where the third driven pulley contacts an outer surface of the belt.

An image reading device includes first and second image reading platforms that are separated from each other with a separation member, an image reading element movable between positions facing the first and second image reading platforms, a pair of sliding members that is slideable in a direction according to the movement of the image reading element on a pair of sliding paths that extends in the direction and is disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other in another direction intersecting with the direction and that is provided so as to at least partially overlap with the first and second image reading platforms; and a pair of protrusions disposed on parts of the pair of sliding paths positioned on both sides of the separation member in the another direction and that protrudes further toward the pair of sliding members from the first and second image reading platforms.

An image forming apparatus comprises a sensor, a base, a clamping section and a limiting section. The sensor includes a hook having a claw section. The sensor is held on the base. The clamping section and the limiting section are arranged on the base. The claw section is clamped with the clamping section. The limiting section is elastically deformable when the sensor is mounted on the base. When the claw section is clamped with the clamping section, the limiting section faces the hook from the opposite side of the clamping section so as to limit the position of the hook.

An optical scanning apparatus includes a deflector for scanningly deflecting a beam; a scanning lens for imaging the beam deflected by the deflector on a surface; a casing for a light source, the deflector and the lens; and an elastic member urging the lens toward the casing along an optical axis. The lens is provided with an abutment at a beam emergent side of the lens, the abutment abutting to the casing, and is provided with a limiting portion at a side opposite from the emergent side, the limiting portion limiting movement in the opposite direction. The elastic member and the limiting portion limits the movement of the lens in the direction opposite to the direction of the lens. When the lens contacts a positioning portion of the casing, a gap is provided between the elastic member and the limiting portion with respect to the direction.