Abstract: A metal frame of an image forming apparatus includes a first support which includes a first metal plate and a second metal plate; a second support configured to support the image forming unit together with the first support; and a third support configured to connect the first support and the second support. The first metal plate includes a corner portion provided between a first portion and a second portion. The second metal plate includes a third portion, a fourth portion, and a fifth portion, wherein the fifth portion includes another corner portion located between a first stretched portion and a second stretched portion facing the corner portion of the first metal plate. A tip of the second stretched portion faces the fourth portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image bearers, motors, a reference position detector, and processing circuitry. The circuitry senses a density of a toner image on each bearer; forms an image pattern and senses, based on a detection result of the detector and a sensing result of the density, density unevenness in a rotation cycle and a phase of the density unevenness with respect to a rotational position reference of each bearer; calculates a target phase based on the phase sensed; calculates a relative phase difference based on a rotational position and the target phase of each bearer; selects, as a reference image bearer, an image bearer having a minimum phase correction value, based on a calculation result of the difference; and controls the rotational position of each of the other image bearers with respect to the reference image bearer to the phase correction value, with the motors being driven.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photosensitive members, a support frame configured to support the plurality of photosensitive members, and an electric unit including a first electric board and a second electric board, and fixed to the support frame. The electric unit includes a first supporting portion extending in an arrangement direction of the plurality of photosensitive members, a second supporting portion extending in the arrangement direction, and a board holding portion configured to hold the first electric board and the second electric board and bridged between the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion. The first electric board is positioned in the image forming apparatus more inward than at least one of the first supporting portion or the second supporting portion in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction and a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports a recording medium whose image formation surface has electric conductivity; a transfer unit that makes contact with the image formation surface of the recording medium transported by the transport unit and transfers an image formed with particles onto the image formation surface by an electric field formed between the transfer unit and the image formation surface; and a support unit that has electric conductivity, supports the recording medium so as to be conductive with the image formation surface of the recording medium, and is transported to the transfer unit together with the recording medium by the transport unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body having a receiving surface on which a document is placed and that is provided on a rear portion of an upper surface, the rear portion being positioned behind a front end of the upper surface; a reading unit provided on the rear portion such that the reading unit is openable and closable, the reading unit reading an image on the document while transporting the document; an inclined surface on which no operation unit is disposed, the inclined surface being continuously inclined downward from a front end of the rear portion to the front end of the upper surface; and a projecting portion provided on a front portion of the apparatus body at a position on a first side of the inclined surface in a left-right direction, the projecting portion projecting forward and upward with respect to the inclined surface.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes (i) a rotatable developing roller for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member; (ii) a first drive transmission member capable of receiving a rotational force originated by the main assembly; (iii) a second drive transmission member capable of coupling with the first drive transmission member and capable of transmitting the rotational force received by the first drive transmission member to the developing roller; and (iv) a coupling disconnection member including a force receiving portion capable of receiving the force originated by the main assembly, and an urging portion capable of urging at least one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member by the force received by the force receiving portion to separate one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member from the other, thereby disconnecting t

Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, a failure prediction server includes an interface, a memory, and a processor. The interface is configured to communicate with equipment including a component that deteriorates over time. The memory is configured to store measurement data acquired from the equipment. The processor is configured to set a monitoring start condition for failure prediction in the corresponding equipment based on the measurement data acquired as initial data from the equipment, accumulate the measurement data acquired from the equipment in the memory after the monitoring start condition is satisfied, and predict a failure of the component based on the measurement data accumulated in the memory.

Abstract: A recording material conveying device includes: a first conveyor that constitutes a conveyance path of a recording material; a second conveyor that branches from the first conveyor and constitutes a conveyance path of the recording material different from the conveyance path of the first conveyor; and a detector that detects recording material characteristics of the recording material, the detector being arranged in the second conveyor on a downstream side in a conveyance direction of the recording material with respect to a branch portion where the first conveyor and the second conveyor branch.

Abstract: A nip forming device includes an endless film and a pressure rotator that presses against a heater via the endless film. A driver drives and rotates the pressure rotator to cause the pressure rotator to drive and rotate the endless film. A controller controls the driver to drive and rotate the pressure rotator, based on a temperature of the pressure rotator, that is detected by a detector, in a forward direction to convey a conveyed object and to interrupt forward rotation of the pressure rotator. In response to a determination that the temperature of the pressure rotator is higher than a predetermined temperature when a job of the nip forming device is finished, the controller controls the driver to drive and rotate the pressure rotator for a predetermined time in a backward direction opposite to the forward direction and to interrupt backward rotation of the pressure rotator.

Abstract: A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller. The coupling member includes a driven portion, and an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion. The intermediary portion is also configured to be movable relative to the driven portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The coupling member further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller. The driving portion is also configured to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion.

Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing; a developing roller extending in a first direction; a developing-roller gear; a coupling including a coupling gear; a first idle gear; a second idle gear; an agitator; a first agitator gear; and a protrusion. The developing-roller gear, the coupling, the first idle gear, the second idle gear, the first agitator gear, and the protrusion may be positioned at an outer surface of the casing. The protrusion may be positioned between a first axis of the coupling and a third axis of the first agitator gear in a second direction connecting the first and third axes. The protrusion may be positioned outside an addendum circle of the developing-roller gear, an addendum circle of the coupling gear, an addendum circle of the first idle gear, and an addendum circle of the second idle gear. The first agitator gear may be spaced apart from the protrusion in the first direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on paper, a conveying unit configured to convey the paper through the image forming unit, and a housing configured to accommodate the image forming unit and the conveying unit. The conveying unit is arranged on one side surface side of the housing. The housing has an opening on a side wall on a conveying unit side. The opening is open only downward.

Abstract: A recording-material-transporting apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports a recording material along a transport path; an image reading unit that is disposed on one side of the transport path and that reads an image formed on the recording material transported along the transport path; and a rotating member disposed opposite the image reading unit with the transport path provided therebetween. At least one portion of the rotating member contacts the image reading unit, or a rotating member support that supports the rotating member contacts the image reading unit.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main body; a toner cartridge having a first opening; a process cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a second opening; a positioning part; a transfer unit; and an urging member. The toner cartridge and process cartridge are attachable to and detachable from the main body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The positioning part and transfer unit are positioned above the process cartridge attached to the main body. The positioning part fixes the attached process cartridge in position relative to the main body. The urging member urges the attached process cartridge toward the positioning part and urges the process cartridge such that the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge to the process cartridge through the first opening and the second opening when the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the main body.

Abstract: A drum cleaner cleans a circumferential surface of a photosensitive drum. A toner pipe allows passage of toner that is recovered from the drum cleaner to a toner container. The toner pipe has a discharge port configured to discharge toner in the toner pipe. The toner container includes a toner discharge port, a toner reception port, and a toner conveyor. The toner discharge port discharges toner in the toner container. The toner reception port receives toner discharged from the discharge port of the toner pipe. The toner conveyor conveys toner from the toner reception port toward the toner discharge port. A development housing includes a development reception port and a development discharge port. The development reception port receives toner discharged from the toner discharge port. The development discharge port discharges, to the toner pipe, toner that is retuned from the development housing to the toner container.

Abstract: A rotating device includes: a first rotating body capable of forward rotation; a second rotating body capable of forward rotation and reverse rotation; a drive unit outputting drive forces in a forward rotation direction and a reverse rotation direction; and a transmission mechanism transmitting the drive force in the forward rotation direction output from the drive unit to the first rotating body and the second rotating body to rotate the first rotating body and the second rotating body in the forward direction and transmitting the drive force in the reverse rotation direction output from the drive unit to the first rotating body and the second rotating body to rotate the first rotating body in the forward direction and rotate the second rotating body in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A light irradiator includes a housing having vents and a light-emission opening. The housing has a first surface having a first side with a first dimension and a second side with a second dimension, a second surface having the second side and a third side with a third dimension, and a third surface having the first side and the third side. The housing includes the light-emission opening in the first surface, and a first vent and a second vent in the second surface. The first vent is nearer the light-emission opening than the second vent. The second vent is opposite to the light-emission opening. The light irradiator includes an axial fan at the second vent that has a fan size greater than the first dimension and less than the second dimension, and a plate that faces the axial fan with a spacing with the first dimension or less.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes (i) a rotatable developing roller for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member; (ii) a first drive transmission member capable of receiving a rotational force originated by the main assembly; (iii) a second drive transmission member capable of coupling with the first drive transmission member and capable of transmitting the rotational force received by the first drive transmission member to the developing roller; and (iv) a coupling disconnection member including a force receiving portion capable of receiving the force originated by the main assembly, and an urging portion capable of urging at least one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member by the force received by the force receiving portion to separate one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member from the other, thereby disconnecting t

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, a heater, a conductor, and a discharger. The first rotator includes a conductive first layer, a non-conductive second layer, and a conductive third layer. The first to third layers exist in an order of the first layer to the third layer from a center of the first rotator to an outside of the first rotator. The second rotator forms a nip between the first rotator and the second rotator. A recording medium bearing a toner image passes through the nip. The heater is disposed inside a loop of the second rotator and heats the second rotator. The conductor is in contact with one of the first layer and the third layer. The discharger is in contact with the conductor and the other one of the first layer and the third layer and removes electric charge from the first rotator.

Abstract: A method for reducing artifacts in an electrophotographic printing system includes receiving a print job including image data for a set of pages. The electrophotographic printing system is used to print a block of pages from the print job to provide corresponding printed pages. The image data for the block of pages is analyzed to determine an average toner usage rate. If the determined average toner usage rate for the block of pages falls outside an acceptable toner usage rate range, image data for a compensation image and a number of compensation images are determined such that the average toner usage rate will be brought back into the acceptable toner usage rate range.