Provided is a paper feeding roller in which recesses due to deformation are unlikely to be formed even when contact with another roller in one location continues for a comparatively long period of time, particularly as a conveying roller or the like. A paper feeding roller that has a shaft measuring 6 mm in exterior diameter pressure-welded to the outer circumferential surface under a load of 600 g in a high-temperature environment of 60° C. for 24 hours is left at room temperature for eight hours while being pressure-welded, after which the recess amount obtained using the difference (T).sub.0−T.sub.1, between the thickness T.sub.1 (mm) of the position where the shaft was pressure-welded and the thickness T.sub.0 (mm) of a position where the shaft was not pressure-welded, is 0.1 mm or less.

The invention relates to a gripper bar body for a gripper bar in a gripper carriage arrangement in a machine for treating sheet material, the gripper bar body being configured to carry gripper brackets for movement between sheet gripping and sheet releasing positions. The gripper bar body is formed as a hollow structure comprising at least two different materials, the two different materials comprising at least a metal material and a composite material and the at least two different materials being at least partly arranged in a superposed manner. The resulting bar has a better resistance to wear than the ones of the state-of-the-art.

A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a casing provided with a first conveying path and a second conveying path; a first feeding tray provided in the casing and having a first supporting surface that supports a sheet; a supporting member that supports the first feeding tray from below in the casing; a first feeding section provided above the first supporting surface; a first guide member having a first guide surface to guide the sheet fed from the first feeding tray; a second feeding tray provided below the supporting member in the casing and having a second supporting surface that supports a different sheet; a second feeding section provided above the second supporting surface; a second guide member having a second guide surface to guide the different sheet fed from the second feeding tray; and a frame made of metal and being installed on a lower surface of the supporting member.

The image forming apparatus includes a sheet storing unit insertably and pullably attached to the frame unit, an image forming unit, and a frame unit. The frame unit includes two frame members parallel to each other with a predetermined distance therebetween and are connected and fixed to each other. The two frame members respectively include engaged portions. The sheet storing unit includes engaging portions respectively engageable with the engaged portions in a state where the sheet storing unit is inserted in the frame unit. In a state where the engaging portions respectively engage with the engaged portions, the engaging portions that respectively engage with the engaged portions and a portion between the two engaging portions of the sheet storing unit serve as strengthening members to regulate deformation of the two frame members by at least a predetermined amount.

Provided is a paper feeding roller in which recesses due to deformation are unlikely to be formed even when contact with another roller in one location continues for a comparatively long period of time, particularly as a conveying roller or the like. A paper feeding roller that has a shaft measuring 6 mm in exterior diameter pressure-welded to the outer circumferential surface under a load of 600 g in a high-temperature environment of 60° C. for 24 hours is left at room temperature for eight hours while being pressure-welded, after which the recess amount obtained using the difference (T).sub.0−T.sub.1, between the thickness T.sub.1 (mm) of the position where the shaft was pressure-welded and the thickness T.sub.0 (mm) of a position where the shaft was not pressure-welded, is 0.1 mm or less.

An image forming apparatus includes a discharge tray, a sheet contact plate, an arm, a slider, and a spring. The sheet contact plate includes a first end portion and a second end portion located downstream in a sheet discharge direction and is pivotable about a first axis located at the first end portion between a retracted position and a protruding position. The arm includes a third end portion and a fourth end portion. The third end portion is supported by the second end portion of the sheet contact plate such that the arm is pivotable about a second axis located at the third end portion. The slider supports the fourth end portion of the arm such that the arm is pivotable about a third axis located at the fourth end portion. The spring urges the slider away from the first axis along the sheet discharge direction.

An image forming apparatus includes a discharge tray, a sheet contact plate, an arm, a slider, and a spring. The sheet contact plate includes a first end portion and a second end portion located downstream in a sheet discharge direction and is pivotable about a first axis located at the first end portion between a retracted position and a protruding position. The arm includes a third end portion and a fourth end portion. The third end portion is supported by the second end portion of the sheet contact plate such that the arm is pivotable about a second axis located at the third end portion. The slider supports the fourth end portion of the arm such that the arm is pivotable about a third axis located at the fourth end portion. The spring urges the slider away from the first axis along the sheet discharge direction.

The invention relates to a gripper bar body for a gripper bar in a gripper carriage arrangement in a machine for treating sheet material, the gripper bar body being configured to carry gripper brackets for movement between sheet gripping and sheet releasing positions. The gripper bar body is formed as a hollow structure comprising at least two different materials, the two different materials comprising at least a metal material and a composite material and the at least two different materials being at least partly arranged in a superposed manner. The resulting bar has a better resistance to wear than the ones of the state-of-the-art.

A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a casing provided with a first conveying path and a second conveying path; a first feeding tray provided in the casing and having a first supporting surface that supports a sheet; a supporting member that supports the first feeding tray from below in the casing; a first feeding section provided above the first supporting surface; a first guide member having a first guide surface to guide the sheet fed from the first feeding tray; a second feeding tray provided below the supporting member in the casing and having a second supporting surface that supports a different sheet; a second feeding section provided above the second supporting surface; a second guide member having a second guide surface to guide the different sheet fed from the second feeding tray; and a frame made of metal and being installed on a lower surface of the supporting member.

An image forming apparatus includes a discharge tray, a sheet contact plate, an arm, a slider, and a spring. The sheet contact plate includes a first end portion and a second end portion located downstream in a sheet discharge direction and is pivotable about a first axis located at the first end portion between a retracted position and a protruding position. The arm includes a third end portion and a fourth end portion. The third end portion is supported by the second end portion of the sheet contact plate such that the arm is pivotable about a second axis located at the third end portion. The slider supports the fourth end portion of the arm such that the arm is pivotable about a third axis located at the fourth end portion. The spring urges the slider away from the first axis along the sheet discharge direction.