Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a plurality of exterior covers forming an exterior of the image forming apparatus, a fan configured to suck outside air into the image forming apparatus through an air intake port, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the outside air sucked by the fan, and a partition member disposed upstream the temperature sensor and downstream the air intake port in an airflow generated by the fan, the partition member dividing an air intake path through which the outside air sucked through the air intake port passes into a first path passing through a fixing unit side and a second path passing through a temperature sensor side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum and a charge elimination part. The charge elimination part of a predetermined image forming unit irradiates a downstream area of the primary transfer position on the photosensitive drum of the predetermined image forming unit with post-transfer charge elimination light and irradiates an upstream area of a primary transfer position on the photosensitive drum of the other image forming unit disposed on a downstream side of the predetermined image forming unit in the conveyance direction. A slit part is provided between the predetermined image forming unit and the other image forming unit for narrowing an irradiation width of the pre-transfer charge elimination light in a circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet supporting portion, a sheet feeding portion configured to feed a sheet supported on the sheet supporting portion, a sheet regulation portion configured to regulate a position of the sheet in a width direction, an image forming portion including an exposing portion configured to expose a charged surface of an image bearing member, the image forming portion being configured to form an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding portion, and a frame member provided inside the apparatus body. A position of the exposing portion is determined with respect to the frame member. A position of the sheet regulation portion is determined with respect to the frame member.

Abstract: There is provided a consumable supply method for supplying a refill consumable stored in a refill consumable container to a consumable container installable in an equipment body. The consumable supply method includes removing a refill information storage device storing information on the refill consumable from the refill consumable container; removing an information storage device storing information on a consumable contained in the consumable container, the information being for exchange with the equipment body, from the consumable container; and attaching the refill information storage device removed from the refill consumable container as an information storage device to the consumable container in place of the information storage device removed from the consumable container.

Abstract: A fixing device 9 includes a nozzle unit 9A and an opposite electrode 9B. The nozzle unit 9A sprays a fixing solution to a sheet S on which a toner image is formed. The opposite electrode 9B is located at an interval from the nozzle unit 9A. The opposite electrode 9B is applied with a voltage. The opposite electrode 9B has a first flat plate 31 and a plurality of first projections 32. The first flat plate 31 extends in a first direction. The plurality of first projections 32 extends from the first flat plate 31 in a second direction that is a direction facing from the opposite electrode 9B toward the nozzle unit 9A. The plurality of first projections 32 are aligned in the first direction.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a housing, a cleaning blade, a toner conveyance path, a conveyance screw, and a first flicker. The conveyance screw includes a rotary shaft and a helical vane. The first flicker includes a first base portion and first contact pieces and uses the first contact pieces to press the conveyance screw in a first direction away from a bottom part of the toner conveyance path. The first base portion includes a secured portion and a blade opposed portion. A reinforcement member is stacked on the blade opposed portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes two rotators, a driver driving the rotators, a heating device to heat the rotator, a blower blowing air to the heating device, a temperature detector, a recording medium detector, a cover, an open-close detector, and circuitry. The circuitry detects an abnormal state and stops heat generation, determines whether the cover is closed using the open-close detector, controls the blower to blow air when the cover is closed, determines whether the recording medium is in the nip using the recording medium detector, controls the driver to rotate the two rotators when the cover is closed and no recording medium is in the nip, determines whether a temperature detected is equal to or lower than a threshold value before the cover is opened, and controls the blower to decrease an air volume when the temperature detected is equal to or lower than the threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming method includes forming, fixing, and applying. The forming forms a toner image on a recording medium by an image forming device. The fixing fixes the toner image on the recording medium with heat by a fixing device. The applying applies an electric charge by a charge applying device to the recording medium on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing device, in a state in which an output-adjustable power source for the charge applying device has an electric current that is controlled to be constant.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording material based on first image data; a controller configured to control an image forming operation by the image forming unit; an acquisition unit configured to acquire property information related to a property of the recording material; a setting unit configured to set a control value to be used in the image forming operation; a reader configured to read an image formed on the recording material by the image forming unit and to output second image data; and a comparison unit configured to compare the first image data to the second image data, wherein the setting unit is further configured to set the control value based on a comparison result from the comparison unit and the property information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a housing, a toner cartridge, and a drum unit. The drum unit is movable through the opening between an accommodated position where the drum unit is positioned in the housing and a pulled-out position where the drum unit is pulled out of the housing. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum and a developing unit. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a second direction. The developing unit includes a magnetic roller, a developer container, a first auger and a second auger. The magnetic roller is positioned between the toner cartridge and the photosensitive drum. The magnetic roller faces a surface of the photosensitive drum. The developer container is formed with an inlet allowing the toner to be replenished from the toner cartridge. The first auger is positioned in the developer container. The second auger is positioned in the developer container.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: an image bearing member; an exposure unit; a developing member which is rotatable at a rotation speed different from the image bearing member; a developer supply member; a developing voltage-applying unit; a supply voltage-applying unit; and a control unit. The control unit controls execution of: an image forming operation in which a developer image is formed by supplying developer on the image bearing member; and a cleaning operation which removes a substance adhered to the image bearing member using the developing member. In the cleaning operation, the control unit controls the developing voltage-applying unit or the supply voltage-applying unit so that the cleaning force using the developing member becomes stronger than that in the image forming operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a housing; a photoconductor; a developing unit configured to form a developer image on the photoconductor; a developer cartridge storing developer, the cartridge being removably mountable on the housing, a supplier configured to supply the developer from the developer cartridge to the developing unit; and a controller configured to execute a first printing process of forming a developer image by use of the developer supplied from the developer cartridge, when the developer cartridge is being mounted on the housing, and a second printing process of forming a developer image by use of the developer remaining in the developing unit, when a usage amount of the developing unit is not less than a predetermined value and the developer cartridge is not being mounted on the housing, wherein the controller does not execute the second printing process when the usage amount is less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a reservoir for holding toner. An outlet is positioned on a front of the toner cartridge for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. First, second and third electrical contacts are positioned on a first side of the toner cartridge for contacting corresponding first, second and third electrical contacts in an image forming device. Each of the first, second and third electrical contacts of the toner cartridge is electrically connected to a respective imaging component positioned on the toner cartridge. The first, second and third electrical contacts of the toner cartridge are positioned such that an imaginary line that angles downward in a direction from a rear of the toner cartridge toward the front of the toner cartridge passes through the first, second and third electrical contacts of the toner cartridge.

Abstract: A fixing device 9 has a nozzle unit 9A. The nozzle unit 9A sprays the fixing solution to a sheet S on which a toner image is formed. The nozzle unit 9A has a housing 21, a nozzle electrode 23 and a plurality of nozzles 22. The plurality of nozzles 22 has a first nozzle 22A and a second nozzle 22B located at an interval from the first nozzle 22A in a first direction, and the nozzle electrode 23 is located inside the housing 21. The nozzle electrode 23 extends in the first direction. A length L1 of the nozzle electrode 23 in the first direction is greater than the interval between the first nozzle 22A and the second nozzle 22B in the first direction.

Abstract: A light emitting device 401 includes a silicon substrate and a light emitting region including a lower electrode, a light emitting layer, and an upper electrode, and an exposure head is provided with a printed board on which light emitting devices 401 are arranged in a staggered form and a circuit portion 602 for controlling, on the basis of image data, a voltage of each of electrodes included in the lower electrode so that the light emitting device layer emits light and is for forming an image with a resolution corresponding to an arrangement interval of the lower electrode with respect to a crossing direction, and the circuit portion 602 is disposed together with the light emitting region on the silicon substrate. Costs on wire bonding and an area of a wiring board can be suppressed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing portion, a transfer member, a conveyance portion, a guide member disposed on the same side as the image bearing member with respect to a conveyance path, the guide member being configured to guide the sheet conveyed by the conveyance portion toward the transfer portion, a rotary member disposed to oppose the guide member and configured to be movable between a first position and a second position, and an urging portion. An urging force of the urging portion is set such that the rotary member is positioned at the first position in a case where a first sheet having a first stiffness is conveyed, and such that the rotary member is positioned at the second position by being pushed by a second sheet having a second stiffness.

Abstract: A coupling member for an image forming apparatus cartridge includes a first end portion including an outer surface and a plurality of surfaces forming a recess extending in a direction from the outer surface toward the rotational axis. The plurality of surfaces include a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface. As viewed in a direction toward the recess and perpendicular to the rotational axis, the third surface faces toward outside of the recess, and both of the first and second surfaces are sloped with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis such that a distance measured along a direction of the rotational axis between the first and second surfaces decreases as a distance along the first and second surfaces from the outer surface increases.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store pattern information and a generation unit configured to generate a drive signal for driving an exposure unit. The pattern information indicates a plurality of exposure patterns for a first pixel, the plurality of exposure patterns are selected such that whether exposure patterns that are identical to each other among the plurality of exposure patterns are adjacent to each other, or two exposure patterns that are different from each other among the plurality of exposure patterns are adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction, the non-exposure regions are not consecutively present between the two exposure patterns, and in a case where the plurality of exposure patterns are consecutively used in the main scanning direction, the generation unit randomly selects an exposure pattern to be used.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller to move a sheet, in an image formation process on a first surface, to a standard position in a width direction and move the sheet, in an image formation process on a second surface, in the width direction based on a detected position in a case where a difference between the standard position and a first position in the width direction is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. The controller moves the sheet, in the image formation process on the first surface, by the predetermined value in the width direction and moves the sheet, in the image formation process on the second surface, in the width direction based on detected positions in a case where the difference between the standard position and the first position in the width direction is larger than the predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a fixing device, a high voltage power supply board, a main body housing and a door. The door is provided in the main body housing so as to face the fixing device. The fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure roller, a charge applying device, a fixing housing and a contact member. The fixing member is rotatable. The charge applying device is applied with a voltage from the high voltage power supply board and applies a charge to the fixing member. The fixing housing stores the fixing member, the pressure roller and the charge applying device. The contact member is provided in the fixing housing at a position accessible by opening the door and to which a feed line on the high voltage power supply board side and a feed line on the charge applying device side are connected.