Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit having a conducive roller member formed with a conductive elastic body on an outer peripheral surface of a shaft of the conductive roller member for transferring, to a recording medium, development images formed on an image carrier based on a transfer voltage applied thereto, a voltage application unit for applying the transfer voltage to the transfer unit; a voltage control unit controlling the transfer voltage to be applied from the voltage application unit to the transfer unit, and a temperature measuring unit measuring shaft, temperature of the conductive roller member, wherein the voltage control unit controls the transfer voltage applied to the transfer unit based on the shaft temperature measured with the temperature measuring unit.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a discharge roller discharges a sheet conveyed by a first conveying path. The discharge roller switches between: a mode of conveying a sheet in a sheet discharging direction to discharge a sheet; and a mode of reversing a direction of conveying a sheet from the sheet discharging direction and feeding a sheet to a re-conveying path. A pivot plate at an open position constitutes a second conveying path. The pivot plate at a closed position closes the second conveying path. The pivot plate is provided with a penetrating portion penetrating the pivot plate over an entire thickness of the pivot plate. The penetrating portion constitutes part of the re-conveying path when the pivot plate is disposed at the closed position. Part of the pivot plate is exposed outside the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a belt member configured to be rotationally operated at least during performance of a job; an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the position of the belt member; a detection unit configured to detect the position of the belt member; and a control unit configured to control the adjustment mechanism during performance of a job, and perform steering control for correcting deviation of the belt member, the control unit comparing the position of the belt member at the end of a job, and a determination threshold for determining deviation of the belt member from a belt reference position, and selecting a control mode relating to the steering control, according to a result of the comparison.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: an image formation device which forms a developer image on a medium; a storage device which stores medium information concerning the medium; a fixation device which fixes the developer image to the medium by heating the developer image while causing the medium to travel; a first detector which detects a stop or a speed reduction of travel of the medium in the fixation device; a second detector which detects a temperature of the fixation device; a cooler; and a controller which, when the first detector detects the stop or the speed reduction of the travel of the medium, stops an operation of the fixation device, and operates the cooler based on the medium information and the temperature of the fixation device, thereby cooling the medium stuck in the fixation device.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cartridge main body, a protection member, a rib of the cartridge main body, and a pair of guides of the protection member, wherein an upstream-side guide of the guides can guide the rib when the cartridge main body is inserted into a device main body, and terminates the guide after allowing the cartridge main body to be inserted up to a position where the cartridge main body becomes independent of the device main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming a toner image; an intermediary transfer belt for receiving the toner image; a blade for cleaning the belt by removing residual toner therefrom; an ambient condition sensor for detecting an ambient condition; a memory for storing information relating to a use amount of the belt; and a controller for executing an operation in a mode in which a toner is deposited on the belt in an area corresponding to between a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet during execution of a continuous image forming job for continuously forming the images on the sheets to supply the toner to the blade. The controller controls a frequency of the operations in the mode, on the basis of an output of the sensor during an image formation job and the information stored in the memory.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a magnetic flux generation unit, an auxiliary heating body formed of material that generates heat from the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generation unit, a rotatable fixing belt having opposing first and second ends in a direction of its rotational axis and a material that generates heat from the magnetic flux, a magnetic flux shield in contact with the auxiliary heating body and having first and second openings that expose the auxiliary body, the first and second openings being symmetrical with respect to a center point along the rotational axis between the first and second ends, a temperature sensor in contact with the auxiliary heating body through one of the first and second openings of the magnetic flux shield shielding member, and a driver that controls power supplied to the magnetic flux generation unit in accordance with signals from the temperature sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a toner image charged with a predetermined polarity, and a power source to apply a bias to a transfer portion to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member to a recording medium, a polarity of the bias being changed alternately. The toner image formed with toner of a plurality of colors is transferred in a color mode and the toner image formed with toner of a single color is transferred in a monochrome mode. The bias includes a peak voltage with a polarity that returns toner from the recording medium to the image bearing member. An absolute value of the peak voltage in the color mode is equal to or greater than an absolute value of the peak voltage in the monochrome mode.

Abstract: An imaging forming apparatus includes a positive high-voltage circuit that generates voltage having a positive polarity, a negative high-voltage circuit connected in series with the positive high-voltage circuit and generates voltage having a negative polarity, a transfer roller to which the voltage generated by the positive high-voltage circuit or the negative high-voltage circuit is supplied, neutralizing pins to which the voltage generated by the negative high-voltage circuit is supplied, a current detection circuit that detects current flowing into the transfer roller, and a diode connected between the transfer roller and the neutralizing pins and that separates a path for the current flowing into the transfer roller and a path for current flowing into the neutralizing pins from each other.

Abstract: When ending image forming, a state is realized where charging by a charging roller is stopped (charging bias off) and also applying DC voltage at a developing device is stopped (developing bias DC off). In this state, AC voltage is applied to the developing device (developing bias AC on), thereby adhering toner to the surface of a photosensitive drum and forming interposing toner. Driving of the photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt is then stopped in the state with the interposing toner interposed between the photosensitive drum and intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a housing which accommodates developer therein, a receiving member provided which couples with a force output member of an image forming apparatus to receive a driving force, a developing roller which rotates by the driving force received by the receiving member; a detectable rotary member having a first detectable portion and a second detectable portion and rotates by the driving force from a first rotational position where the first detectable portion is detected by a detection member provided in the image forming apparatus to a second rotational position where the second detectable portion is detected by the detection member, and a cut-off mechanism which cuts off a transmission of the driving force from the receiving member to the detectable rotary member in a state where the detectable rotary member is positioned in the second rational position.

Abstract: A paper humidifying device includes: a pair of humidifying rollers configured to apply moisture to paper when the paper is sandwiched and conveyed; a water feed roller configured to supply moisture to an outer peripheral surface of the pair of humidifying rollers; a dewatering unit configured to wipe off moisture on the outer peripheral surface of the pair of humidifying rollers; a first drive unit configured to cause the water feed roller to be separated from or abut on the pair of humidifying rollers; a second drive unit configured to cause the dewatering unit to be separated from or abut on the pair of humidifying rollers; and a control unit configured to control the first drive unit and the second drive unit.

Abstract: A developer supplier includes a developer container and a main unit. The main unit includes a mounting section. The developer container includes a container body, a developer discharge port and a container shutter. The main unit includes a housing, a developer supply port, a main unit shutter, and a biasing member. The biasing member biases the main unit shutter to the developer supply port. The developer container is mounted into the mounting section in a first orientation, and is subsequently rotated in a first rotational direction so that the developer container changes to a second orientation. The main unit shutter moves in the first rotational direction against a biasing force of the biasing member so that the developer supply port is exposed. The container body rotates in a second rotational direction owing to the biasing force so that the developer discharge port is covered by the container shutter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to carry an image, a developing device configured to develop a latent image with a developer including toner and carrier, and a toner content sensor configured to detect a ratio of the toner to the developer in the developing device. A toner container contains the toner to be supplied to the developing device, and a notifying portion notifies necessity for exchange of the toner container when the ratio indicated by the output of the sensor reaches a set level lower than the predetermined range.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes an outlet port positioned on the front of a housing for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge includes an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned proximate the rear of the housing to receive an actuation force in a frontward direction of the housing at the rear of the housing. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the front of the housing below the outlet port. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engagement surface moves in the frontward direction and protrudes from the front of the housing with at least a portion of the front of the second engagement surface unobstructed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an image, a transfer body that transports a recording medium in a contact region between the image carrier and the transfer body, a pair of transport members that are disposed upstream of the contact region in a transport direction, and transport the recording medium to the contact region, a guide member that includes, between the contact region and the pair of transport members, a portion on a downstream side in the transport direction which serves as a free end portion and a portion on an upstream side in the transport direction which is supported in a cantilever state, that guides a non-transfer surface of the recording medium, that is elastically deformed, and that has a cutout, and a detection unit that detects an image on an outer peripheral surface of the image carrier on a optical path.

Abstract: An imaging forming apparatus includes a positive high-voltage circuit that generates voltage having a positive polarity, a negative high-voltage circuit connected in series with the positive high-voltage circuit and generates voltage having a negative polarity, a transfer roller to which the voltage generated by the positive high-voltage circuit or the negative high-voltage circuit is supplied, neutralizing pins to which the voltage generated by the negative high-voltage circuit is supplied, a current detection circuit that detects current flowing into the transfer roller, and a diode connected between the transfer roller and the neutralizing pins and that separates a path for the current flowing into the transfer roller and a path for current flowing into the neutralizing pins from each other.

Abstract: A developer roll according to one example embodiment includes a core including at least one permanent magnet forming a magnetized portion of the core. A cylindrical sleeve positioned around the core is rotatable relative to the core about an axis of rotation in an operative rotational direction. A release pole of the permanent magnet is positioned to magnetically attract developer mix to an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve to transport developer mix on the surface of the sleeve in the operative rotational direction when the sleeve rotates relative to the core to a release point where a magnetic field of the permanent magnet is insufficient to retain developer mix against the surface of the sleeve. An axial length of the magnetized portion of the core decreases at both axial ends of the core as the magnetized portion of the core approaches the release point in the operative rotational direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging roller and a developing voltage application portion. The charging roller is in contact with a rotating image carrier to charge the image carrier. The developing voltage application portion applies a developing bias voltage including an AC component to a developing roller in a developing portion, when the image carrier is in a rotation state with no image. The rotation state with no image indicates a state in which the charged image carrier rotates with no electrostatic latent image being formed thereon. The developing portion supplies toner containing an external additive to the image carrier.

Abstract: A frame for an image forming apparatus includes a first side plate and a second side plate, a post, and a stay. The post includes a first side portion which is a surface opposing the first side plate and which includes a first fastening portion to which the first side plate is fastened, and a second side portion which is formed by being bent from the first side portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first side portion and which includes a second fastening portion, to which the stay is fastened, positioned at a height different from a height of the first fastening portion with respect to the vertical direction. The second side portion is continuously formed at least from the first fastening portion to the second fastening portion with respect to the vertical direction.