Abstract: For a network printer function and a network scan function, a trial using mode whose use frequency is limited can be set. When the preset trial using mode is finished, the use of the tried function is permitted according to setting of an exclusive key.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a fusing unit thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body on which to form an electrostatic latent image, an exposure device to irradiate light to the photosensitive body to form the electrostatic latent image, a developer adhering device to adhere a developer to the photosensitive body on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed to form a visible image, a transfer device to transfer the visible image formed on the photosensitive body onto a printing medium, and a fusing unit to fuse the visible image transferred onto the printing medium to the printing medium.

Abstract: A disclosed developing device includes a developing roller; a supply roller that is in contact with the developing roller and configured to supply toner to the developing roller; a current measuring unit configured to measure an electric current that flows from the developing roller to the supply roller when the toner is supplied from the supply roller to the developing roller; and an error determining unit configured to detect a development error of the developing roller based on the electric current measured by the current measuring unit.

Abstract: Document processing systems and methods are presented in which the remaining amount of toner, replenisher, or other print consumable in a multi-dispenser bottle consumable supply system is determined, and a user can configure a user interface to graphically display the remaining print consumable supply levels for one or more colors in one or more print engines.

Abstract: The invention provides toner cartridges that deliver toner in a metered fashion to an image forming apparatus. The cartridges have a delivery mechanism comprising a toner delivery member that delivers toner to the supply port as it is rotated. Depending upon the orientation of the delivery mechanism, the toner delivery member can at least partially block or at least partially allow the free flow of toner out of the supply port, as desired. The delivery mechanism of the invention can be used to deliver toner, developer, or any such powder out of a container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes: an image forming portion for forming an image in accordance with image data contained in an input command; and a controller for controlling the image forming portion, and is constructed such that the controller includes: a mode switch for switching the image forming portion from a standby mode in which image forming is instantly enabled into a power-saving mode in which power supply to the image forming portion is partially stopped when no subsequent command has been received after a predetermined period elapsed from when image forming portion was operated last; a mode restoring portion for restoring the image forming portion from power-saving mode to standby mode when a subsequent command is received; and an image quality controller for performing image quality control of the image every time a predetermined time elapsed from when the image forming portion was last operated, and the image quality controller starts execution of the image quality control before the mod

Abstract: A system for adjusting selected operating parameters of an image forming device to improve color registration based on selected environmental conditions includes a first image forming station to print a first registration mark on a substrate, a second image forming station to at least partially erase the first registration mark to form a registration pattern in a reverse transfer process of the color registration, and a control mechanism to adjust voltage biases of charge and developer rolls of the second image forming station based on wet-bulb temperature values determined from measured dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity values and stored in a lookup table so as to maintain a predetermined potential difference between charged and uncharged areas of a PC drum of the second image forming station that avoids Paschen breakdown and the development of toner at charged areas of the PC drum during the reverse transfer process of the color registration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member to bear a latent electrostatic image, a charging member to charge a surface of the image bearing member, an irradiation member to irradiate the image bearing member to write the latent electrostatic image, a development member to develop the latent electrostatic image with a toner to form a visualized image, a transfer device to transfer the visualized image directly or via an intermediate transfer body to a recording medium, a fixing device to fix the transferred image transferred on the recording medium and a cleaning device to remove residual toner remaining on the image bearing member.

Abstract: When a developing cartridge is accommodated in an accommodating section of a process unit casing, an electrode of the developing cartridge for inputting a bias to a developer carrier enters an engagement portion of the process unit casing to be engaged with and fixed to the engagement portion. A joint member joins the electrode to a developing cartridge casing so that the developing cartridge casing is movable relative to the process unit casing in a state in which the electrode is engaged with and fixed to the engagement portion.

Abstract: A toner cartridge in a bottle shape for storing toner is composed of a first cylindrical portion having a blocked bottom wall at one end and an opening at the other end and a second cylindrical portion in which one end thereof is connected to the opening, and an opening for ejecting toner is formed at the other end, and the outside diameter thereof is smaller than the first cylindrical portion.

Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of more reliably detecting patches formed on a recording medium while suppressing an increase in the consumption of printing media and toners. In an image forming apparatus which detects the density or color of each patch of a patch array fixed on a recording medium that is conveyed and corrects an image formation condition based on the detection result, the patches are formed as the patch array so that the conveyance-direction length of each patch gradually increases in an order of detection by the patch detection unit, and the conveyance-direction length of each patch gradually increases according to increasing of a detection position variation amount of a patch in the order of detection by the patch detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a display unit for displaying a program which can be executed in the apparatus has an input unit for inputting a program into the image forming apparatus. A display control unit controls a process for displaying select keys including a plurality of select keys to instruct a selection of a desired one of a plurality of programs stored in the image forming apparatus onto a display screen displayed on the display unit. A discriminating unit discriminates whether or not the select key to instruct a selection of the program inputted by the input unit can be further displayed onto the first display screen to display the select keys corresponding to the programs registered in the image forming apparatus in response to the input of the program from the input unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which the consumption article can be attached to and detached from a main body has a controller, which reads first new/old information that is stored in a repetitively rewritable area of a memory provided on the consumption article and represents whether or not the consumption article is unused after manufacturing or after recycling and second new/old information that is stored in a once rewritable area of the memory and represents the number of times of recycling of the consumption article and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus on the basis of the first new/old information and the second new/old information.

Abstract: Fuser assemblies, xerographic apparatuses including the fuser assemblies, and methods of fusing toner on media in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies comprises a first roll including an electrically-conductive first surface; an electrically-conductive second surface, the first surface and the second surface defining a nip therebetween at which toner is fused on a medium; at least one voltage sensor for sensing a first voltage difference between the first surface and the second surface; and at least one power supply connected to the first surface and the second surface. A controller is connected to each voltage sensor and each power supply. The controller receives a signal from each voltage sensor indicating the first voltage difference, and the controller controls each power supply to produce a second voltage difference between the first surface and the second surface based on the first voltage difference.

Abstract: On a sliding surface of a heating support body positioned in a downstream side in a film body moving direction wherein the heating temperature is comparatively high and the fluidity of a lubricant agent is good, fluid guiding grooves which uniformly disperse the lubricant agent are provided, thereby well dispersing the lubricant agent over the entire region from a center region to both-end regions of the heating support body and the film body and maintaining good slidability of the film body over a long period of time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to print at least one of a plurality of test images and texts at various print concentration levels such that confusion of a user due to a change of a print concentration level is prevented, and a method of controlling the same. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus includes receiving confirmation of a print concentration level to print an image and printing at least one of test images and texts having predetermined print concentrations according to a normal print mode and a toner conservation mode, according to the received confirmation of the print concentration level.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying member having a movable surface; a charging device including a rotatable charging member which is supplied with a voltage including a direct voltage superimposed with an alternating voltage, and which contacts and charges the image carrying member; an electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrying member; and a development device for developing the electrostatic latent image. The frequency of the alternating voltage is lower in a non-image forming area than in an image forming area. In the non-image forming area, the image carrying member is charged to a surface potential having a waveform shape in accordance with the alternating voltage, and the potential difference between the surface potential and the voltage applied to the charging member generates an electric field which moves toner adhering to the charging member to the image carrying member.

Abstract: A developing unit driving apparatus which drives a developing unit having a toner cartridge to accommodate a toner, a developing part disposed in the toner cartridge to develop the toner to a photosensitive body, and a toner supplying part provided in the toner cartridge to supply the toner to the developing part, the apparatus includes: a driving source; a first power transmitter which transmits power supplied from the driving source to the developing part; and a second power transmitter which transmits the power supplied from the driving source to the toner supplying part except when the developing part is driven.

Abstract: A development apparatus that performs development by forming a magnetic brush using a two-component developer is provided with a developer tank that stores developer; a developer bearing member provided with a development sleeve that carries the developer stored in the developer tank on the outer circumferential face and transports the developer to a development area where the electrostatic latent image on the image bearing carrier is developed, the development sleeve being provided with at least a main pole magnet in which a main pole is formed that faces the development area, and an interpole magnet in which an interpole is formed adjacent to the main pole on the downstream side in a developer transport direction; and a carrier recovery means in which a pushing/bending magnetic pole of the same polarity as the interpole is formed such that magnetic force lines of the interpole in the developer bearing member are pushed/bent to the inside of the developer tank.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, pressure member, first temperature detector, and pressure adjustment mechanism. The pressure member presses against the fixing member to form a nip though which a recording medium bearing a toner image thereon is conveyed. The first temperature detector detects a temperature of the fixing member. The pressure adjustment mechanism performs an adjustment to contact pressure between the fixing and pressure members to be lower than an appropriate pressure for image fixing at the detected temperature of the fixing roller or separation of the pressure roller from the fixing member for a part of a period between a time at which a tailing end of a precedent recording medium is conveyed out from the nip and a time at which a leading end of a following recording medium is conveyed into the nip when a plurality of recording media are successively conveyed through the nip.