Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer member that transfers a developer image onto a transfer medium to form an image on the transfer medium; a bias applying unit that applies a transfer bias to the transfer member; and a bias control unit that controls the transfer bias to be applied to the transfer member by the bias applying unit, wherein a longitudinal length of the transfer member is formed to be shorter than a width of the transfer medium having a maximum width on which the image is to be formed with the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of driving a transfer belt are disclosed. The apparatus and method comprise driving the transfer belt provided in an image forming apparatus by a predetermined distance when the transfer belt has been stopped for a predetermined time, and thus varying the contact portion with a plurality of rollers provided on the transfer belt. Image contamination due to deformation on the belt can be avoided. Additionally, because the rotation time of the driving source can be set to a predetermined time during the power-saving mode, power consumption can be minimized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus initiate the supply of power to a component to ready the component to perform a function in response to further operator input.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, using a developer including toner particles and carrier particles, includes a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and a conveying unit. The developing unit contains the developer and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member as a toner image with the toner particles. The cleaning unit contains the developer and mixes the developer with the toner particles collected from the image carrying member after transferring the toner image. The conveying unit conveys a mixture of the collected toner particles and the developer from the cleaning unit to the developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a main body having a copy function of printing an image read from a document on a paper sheet, a printer function of printing an externally input image on a paper sheet, and a paper ejection port to eject a printed paper sheet. The apparatus also includes a paper ejection unit which has a first tray and a second tray for receiving a paper sheet ejected from the paper ejection port, and moves the trays selectively to the positions corresponding to the paper ejection port. The apparatus also includes a control panel for setting an operating condition of the apparatus, and a state key provided on the control panel and configured to operate when holding the trays at current positions.

Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus cools the recording sheet with a cooling fan having an air duct with a first air-blowing outlet and a second air-blowing outlet for directing air from the cooling fan to an interior of the apparatus. An air flow changing member opens or closes the first and second air-blowing outlets, depending on the conveying path of the recording sheet.

Abstract: A lock mechanism includes an opening and closing member (10) that is openably and closably provided on an apparatus frame (1a), a shaft member (15) that is provided on the apparatus frame (1a) for rotatably supporting the opening and closing member (10), and three lock member sets (13) and (14) for sustaining a state in which the opening and closing member (10) is closed with respect to the apparatus frame (1a). The lock member sets (13) and (14) include secured members (13) provided on the opening and closing member (10), and bearing members (14) that are provided on the apparatus frame (1a) for elastically securing the secured members (13). The elastic force when a secured member (132) in one specific lock member set is secured to a bearing member (142) is set to be greater than that of the other lock member sets (131), (133), (141), and (143).

Abstract: In a charging device having saw-tooth electrodes for generating corona discharges, an amount of dust, toner, or paper dust attached to the tip end portions of saw-tooth electrodes is reduced. First to third pairs of saw-tooth electrode plates are disposed in a side-by-side fashion along the periphery of a photosensitive drum in which the first pair is disposed at an upstream side with respect to a direction in which the photosensitive drum rotates, the third pair at a downstream side, and the second pair at a central portion between the remaining two. A current flowing per a unit length of the second pair is set to 1.3 to 3 times as much as a current flowing per a unit length of each of the first and third pairs. The currents flowing per a unit length of the first and third pairs are set to be equal to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a heating device that is configured to heat an image bearing member so that the detection of the surface potential of the image bearing member can be controlled with greater stability. The image forming apparatus utilizes a surface potential detector and a temperature detecting member placed in positions at a precise distance relative to an exposure portion of the image bearing member, such that the stability of the surface potential detection can be improved. When a surface potential of the image bearing member is detected, it is possible to reduce the amount of change in the potential caused by carriers generated immediately after an exposure operation, and to reduce variations in detection of the surface potential caused by variations in the temperature, so that the surface potential can be controlled with greater stability.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus is for removing a toner from a surface of an endless belt. The cleaning apparatus includes a blade, a blade holding structure, and an abutment maintaining structure. The blade abuts on the endless belt that is supported on a tension roller. The blade holding structure holds the blade with its rotation restricted, in a movable manner in the direction of motion adjustment to adjust tension on the endless belt, and causes the blade to abut on a winding area of the endless belt with respect to the tension roller. The abutment maintaining structure allows the blade to follow up movement of the tension roller to thereby maintain abutment of the blade on the endless belt.

Abstract: A photoreceptor module located within a housing. The photoreceptor module includes a photoreceptor belt, a belt support to maintain the belt in a desired configuration, and a transfer assembly. The transfer assembly is operably positioned in close proximity to the belt, and may be moved away from the belt while both are within the housing to ease clearance of paper jams.

Abstract: A transfer unit used with an image forming apparatus includes an upper housing having a transfer belt of an endless track structure to transfer an image from a photoconductive unit of a main body of the image forming apparatus, and a plurality of rollers to support the transfer belt to rotate therein, and a lower housing removably connected to the upper housing, and having a cleaning unit to clean the transfer belt. The transfer unit is removably mounted to the main body of the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, the transfer unit is facile to be connected to and separated in a vertical direction from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Further, it is convenient to replace the transfer unit since the relative position thereof can be controlled with respect to a contacting object, such as the photoconductive unit.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image forming apparatus that has two operation panels—a standard operation panel and an optional operation panel. The image forming apparatus has a standard mode and a professional mode which provide different displays on the operation panels. In addition, custom displays may be stored and recalled by the users.

Abstract: A developer feeding member for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to feed a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion, includes a shaft for receiving a driving force to rotate when the shaft is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a flexible sheet for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion when the flexible sheet is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a mounting member for mounting the flexible sheet on the shaft such that the flexible sheet is movable relative to the shaft in a longitudinal direction, in a widthwise direction and in a thickness direction.

Abstract: A part of a toner supply path is formed in a setting unit, and a nozzle coupled to a toner container is provided, wherein the fitting direction of the toner container to the setting unit and the coupling direction of the nozzle to the toner container are different. There is a powder container having an upper section and a multi-part lower section. The multi-part lower section has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having an opening which is perpendicular to an opening of the upper portion. The upper and lower portions are rotatably engaged such that the upper portion and the lower portion are engaged with each other when rotated to a first position relative to each other, and the upper portion and the lower portion are unengaged with each other when rotated to a second position relative to each other.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus 1 includes: a multiple number of process printing units 20, each having an photoreceptor drum 21 for bearing a developer image formed with a toner corresponding to a different color of color-separated image information; a transfer belt 31 to which a multiple number of developer images are comprised in layers; and a transfer roller 36 for transferring the developer images that have been comprised in layers on transfer belt 31, all at once, to recording paper, wherein the multiple number of process printing units 20 are arranged along transfer belt 31, and is characterized in that among the developer images to be transferred from the photoreceptor drums 21 of multiple image forming units 20 onto transfer belt 31, the toner for the developer image of the color to be transferred first is specified to produce a base-layer of the color images of information.

Abstract: An amount of toner transfer on a reference pattern is calculated by using an optical detecting unit that detects both regular reflection light and diffuse reflection light from a detection target simultaneously, based on a relative ratio between a value obtained by subtracting a result of multiplying a “diffuse reflection output” by a “minimum value of a ratio between a regular reflection output and the diffuse reflection output” from the “regular reflection output” of the density detection reference pattern, and a value obtained by subtracting a result of multiplying the “diffuse reflection output” by a “minimum value of a ratio between the regular reflection output and the diffuse reflection output” from the “regular reflection output” in the background of a transfer belt or an intermediate transfer body.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus, includes a cleaning blade which comes into contact with a surface of a member to be cleaned incorporated in the image forming apparatus and removes a residual toner adhering to the surface, and a toner feeding unit which is disposed on the cleaning blade at a side where the residual toner adheres to the surface and re-adheres the residual toner having been removed from the surface to the surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus collects toner remaining on a photoconductive drum after a toner image is transferred to paper, and collects the impurities (paper dust) included in the toner collected in an image forming apparatus which reuses the collected toner by a mixer provided in a developer container. An auxiliary collecting member is provided in a gap between first feed blades and second feed blades in an impurity collector.