An image forming apparatus, including: a sheet cassette; an image former; a fixer; a discharge tray; a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance passage; a return conveyor configured to convey the sheet from a branch position between the fixer and the discharge tray to a merge position between the sheet cassette and the image former along a return passage which is branched from the conveyance passage at the branch position, passes below the sheet cassette, and merges with the conveyance passage at the merge position; a switchback roller disposed between the branch position and the discharge tray in the conveyance passage and configured to convey the sheet to the discharge tray when it rotates forwardly and to the return passage when it rotates backwardly; and an intermediate conveyance roller disposed in the return passage at a height level intermediate between the fixer and the sheet cassette.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a re-conveyor. The re-conveyor includes a first bevel gear, a second bevel gear, a first re-conveying roller, a shaft member, a first engaged member, a second engaged member, and an engaging member. When the second bevel gear is rotated in a rotational direction by a driving force transmitted from the first bevel gear, the engaging member is moved to a second position and engaged with the first and second engaged members to rotate the shaft member in a rotational direction. When the shaft member is rotated in the rotational direction by a driving force transmitted from the first re-conveying roller, the engaging member is moved to a first position, disengaged from the second engaged member, and engaged with the first engaged member to interrupt transmission of the driving force from the shaft member to the second bevel gear.

An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a first re-conveyance guide that guides a sheet on which an image is formed in a re-conveying direction; a second re-conveyance guide that guides the sheet from the first re-conveyance guide toward the image forming unit; a side guide provided at one end portion of the second re-conveyance guide in a widthwise direction to regulate the sheet; a side chute provided at one end portion of the first re-conveyance guide in the widthwise direction; and an engaging portion provided on the second re-conveyance guide. The engaging portion is engaged with a first engaging portion extending downward from an upstream end portion of the side guide in the re-conveying direction and is engaged with a second engaging portion provided on a downstream end portion of the side chute in the re-conveying direction.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a re-conveyor. The re-conveyor includes a first bevel gear, a second bevel gear, a first re-conveying roller, a shaft member, a first engaged member, a second engaged member, and an engaging member. When the second bevel gear is rotated in a rotational direction by a driving force transmitted from the first bevel gear, the engaging member is moved to a second position and engaged with the first and second engaged members to rotate the shaft member in a rotational direction. When the shaft member is rotated in the rotational direction by a driving force transmitted from the first re-conveying roller, the engaging member is moved to a first position, disengaged from the second engaged member, and engaged with the first engaged member to interrupt transmission of the driving force from the shaft member to the second bevel gear.

An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a first re-conveyance guide that guides a sheet on which an image is formed in a re-conveying direction; a second re-conveyance guide that guides the sheet from the first re-conveyance guide toward the image forming unit; a side guide provided at one end portion of the second re-conveyance guide in a widthwise direction to regulate the sheet; a side chute provided at one end portion of the first re-conveyance guide in the widthwise direction; and an engaging portion provided on the second re-conveyance guide. The engaging portion is engaged with a first engaging portion extending downward from an upstream end portion of the side guide in the re-conveying direction and is engaged with a second engaging portion provided on a downstream end portion of the side chute in the re-conveying direction.

There is provided an image reading device including a power transmission unit that transmits power of a driving source to a transportation roller and a discharging roller, in which the power transmission unit is configured to include a first gear group that constitutes a first power transmission route and a second gear group that constitutes a second power transmission route and that is configured to include a smaller number of gears than the first gear group, the second gear group includes a transportation roller driving gear and is disposed inside a curved inversion route as seen from an axial direction of a rotation shaft, and at least a portion of the transportation roller driving gear is positioned inside a medium transportation region in a width direction of a medium.

An image forming apparatus, including: a sheet cassette; an image former; a fixer; a discharge tray; a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance passage; a return conveyor configured to convey the sheet from a branch position between the fixer and the discharge tray to a merge position between the sheet cassette and the image former along a return passage which is branched from the conveyance passage at the branch position, passes below the sheet cassette, and merges with the conveyance passage at the merge position; a switchback roller disposed between the branch position and the discharge tray in the conveyance passage and configured to convey the sheet to the discharge tray when it rotates forwardly and to the return passage when it rotates backwardly; and an intermediate conveyance roller disposed in the return passage at a height level intermediate between the fixer and the sheet cassette.

There is provided an image reading device including a power transmission unit that transmits power of a driving source to a transportation roller and a discharging roller, in which the power transmission unit is configured to include a first gear group that constitutes a first power transmission route and a second gear group that constitutes a second power transmission route and that is configured to include a smaller number of gears than the first gear group, the second gear group includes a transportation roller driving gear and is disposed inside a curved inversion route as seen from an axial direction of a rotation shaft, and at least a portion of the transportation roller driving gear is positioned inside a medium transportation region in a width direction of a medium.

The present invention is an autonomous artificial muscle fiber coiler system. The system comprises a motor-driven spool holder for feeding monofilament material under controlled tension, a pulley system to regulate tension dynamically, and a bevel gear assembly with synchronized large bevel gears and a smaller third bevel gear to twist the monofilament into a desired helical structure. Two mirrored or parallel motor drivers, controlled by a power supply unit, vary the speed and direction of the gears to achieve customized twist density. The system is designed to produce consistent and precise coiled fibers for applications in robotics, prosthetics, and advanced materials. The coiler can also produce graded fibers by dynamically adjusting tension and twist density. The system supports multiple materials, including nylon, polyester, Kevlar, and conductive polymers.