Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body casing, a plurality of process cartridges, and a moving member. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having a rotation axis extending in a first direction. The plurality of process cartridges are configured to move between an engaging position and a release position in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The photosensitive drum and the positioning member engage with each other in the engaging position, and are disengaged from each other releasing the engagement in the release position. The moving member in a pressing position is configured to exert pressure so that the process cartridges are moved to the engaging position. The moving member in the non-pressing position is configured to release the pressure so that the process cartridges are moved to the release position.

Abstract: The image forming system having an image forming apparatus and a charge adjusting apparatus has a decision unit that decides an amount of charge to be applied to a recording sheet from coverages of toner images of both surfaces of the recording sheet, the image forming apparatus has a fixing unit that heats and presses a recording sheet to which a toner image is transferred, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording sheet, and the charge adjusting apparatus has a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage to the recording sheet to which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit, thereby applying charge with the amount decided by the decision unit to the recording sheet.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging system according to one example embodiment includes a toner cartridge including a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A shaft is rotatably positioned within the reservoir and includes a threaded portion. A partition mounted on the threaded portion of the shaft moves axially along the threaded portion when the shaft rotates. The partition divides the reservoir into a first toner compartment and a second toner compartment. A sensing arrangement monitors an axial position of the partition along the shaft. The sensing arrangement includes a plurality of sensors arranged at predetermined axial locations relative to the shaft and a sensed member connected to the partition. The plurality of sensors are positioned to detect an axial position of the sensed member relative to the shaft for determining the axial position of the partition along the shaft.

Abstract: Techniques related to printing using a metal-surface charging element. A printing system includes a metal-surface charging element and a power supply. The charging element is disposed to deposit electric charge on an imaging surface. The power supply may provide electric power with an alternating current (AC) component and a direct current (DC) component to the charging element.

Abstract: A liquid development device includes a storage section storing a liquid developer in which toner is dispersed, a development member to which the liquid developer stored in the storage section is applied using an application unit, a removing device that, after an electrostatic latent image in a latent image-holding member is developed, removes the liquid developer remaining on the development member, and a shearing device that is provided in a path through which the liquid developer removed using the removing device is returned to the storage section, and applies a shear force to the liquid developer removed using the removing device by making the liquid developer pass through a contact section of two members at least one of which rotates and that have different velocities from each other.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a nip member, a heater, a reflecting member, a load receiving member, and a protective member. The endless belt has end portions in the first direction and a middle portion defined between the end portions. The nip member is configured to contact an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The heater is disposed inside the endless belt. The reflecting member is entirely disposed on a nip-member side with respect to the heater and is configured to reflect radiant heat emitted from the heater toward the inner circumferential surface. The protective member is disposed between the middle portion of the endless belt and the heater and on a side opposite to the nip member with respect to the heater, and is configured to allow light to pass therethrough. The protective member is fastened to the load receiving member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a drawer movable while supporting an cartridge including a photosensitive drum between an inside position and an outside position; an optical unit in the main assembly to project light onto the drum a shutter member provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position an operating portion to move the shutter member from the open position to the closing position in a process of movement of the drawer from the inside position to the outside position and to move the shutter member from the closing position to the open position in a process of movement of the drawer from the outside position to the inside position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer to bear a visible image, a transfer device to transfer the visible image from the image bearer onto a recording medium, a separator to separate the recording medium from the image bearer, a separation bias application device to apply a separation bias to the separator; and a controller to control the separation bias. When the recording medium fed in the image forming apparatus is either a black sheet or a metallic sheet, the controller sets the separation bias smaller than a predetermined separation bias value for a reference sheet type other than the black sheet and the metallic sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer, a developing device, a supplier, and a controller. The controller controls the supplier according to a detection result of a toner density by the toner density sensor and a toner density target value to adjust the toner density of developer in the developing device. The controller is configured to correct the toner density target value and an imaging condition affecting a toner adhesion amount of an output image separately from the toner density, according to a component adhesion deterioration degree being a deterioration degree of carrier due to adhesion of a toner component, obtained based on at least an average image area ratio of the output image, and a coating abrasion deterioration degree being a progression degree of deterioration due to coating abrasion of the carrier, obtained based on at least the average image area ratio of the output image.

Abstract: A fixing device 23 according to the present invention includes: a fixing roller 25 for fixing a toner image onto a sheet of paper; a plurality of separation claws 40 in contact with the fixing roller 25 to separate the sheet of paper, onto which the toner image is fixed, from the fixing roller 25; a holder 28 for supporting the plurality of separation claws 40; and a slide mechanism 30 for sliding the holder 28 along a longitudinal direction of the fixing roller 25.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium includes: an image carrying member; a charging unit disposed in proximity to the image carrying member; a power supply unit configured to sequentially apply a plurality of charging voltages to the charging unit when the medium is not fed through; a current detecting unit configured to detect an AC value flowing through the charging unit; a processing unit configured to perform first charging voltage determination control to derive a peak-to-peak voltage value to be used in a process; and a storage unit configured to pre-store a reference peak-to-peak voltage value for each wastage level of the image carrying member, wherein the processing unit: prohibits execution of the first charging voltage determination control and performs second charging voltage determination control; and obtains a reference peak-to-peak voltage value and derives a peak-to-peak voltage value to be used in the process.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an apparatus body, an image forming portion, a conveyance unit, a storage portion, a sheet movement unit, a memory portion, and a control portion, in a case where an image forming instruction to perform image formation on a sheet has been received, the control portion provides notification of a plurality of discharging methods of storing the sheet which is an object of the image forming instruction, into the storage portion and then exposing the sheet outside of the apparatus body via an opening of the storage portion, based on first information stored in the memory portion and second information about the sheet which is an object of the image forming instruction, and controls the conveyance unit and the sheet movement unit based on a discharging method selected from among the plurality of discharging methods.

Abstract: An optical sensor has a light emission section and a light reception section so arranged as to sandwich an opening part of a toner container from both sides when the toner container is attached, and a shutter slides in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the toner container and has a top surface member opening and closing a toner exhaust port of a cleaning device and a side surface member transmitting and blocking light of the optical sensor. A slit orthogonal to a sliding direction of the shutter is formed at the side surface member of the shutter, and the control section performs detection of attachment and detachment of the toner container based on a waveform pattern of light transmitted through the slits which pattern appears in a signal of the optical sensor.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a first heat generator and a second heat generator that heat the fixing rotator, and a support disposed inside the fixing rotator. A reflector, interposed between the support and each of the first heat generator and the second heat generator, reflects light radiated from the first heat generator and the second heat generator toward the fixing rotator. The reflector includes a body mounted on the support and a shield portion projecting from the body toward the first heat generator and the second heat generator to shield the fixing rotator from the first heat generator and the second heat generator. An electric circuit is connected to the first heat generator and the second heat generator. A heat generation restrainer is provided in the electric circuit to restrict heat generation in the electric circuit.

Abstract: Six first holes into which lead pins of a first semiconductor laser are inserted are arranged to form a parallelogram having line segments each connecting two first holes arranged in an X direction as first short sides, and line segments each connecting three first holes arranged in an intersecting direction intersecting with the X direction as first long sides. Six second holes into which lead pins of a second semiconductor laser are inserted are arranged to form a parallelogram having line segments each connecting two second holes arranged in the X direction as second short sides, and line segments each connecting three second holes arranged in the intersecting direction intersecting with the X direction as second long sides.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a paper sheet feeder, an image forming circuit, a paper sheet discharge unit, and a high voltage circuit board. The paper sheet feeder is located in the apparatus main body to feed a sheet. The image forming circuit is located in the apparatus main body to form an image on the sheet fed by the paper sheet feeder. The image formed sheet with is discharged to the paper sheet discharge unit. The high voltage circuit board is located along a horizontal direction over the image forming circuit in the apparatus main body to supply a high voltage to the image forming circuit.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating chamber; a discharge opening; a fluid communication path connecting with the discharge opening; a pump portion having a volume changing with reciprocation and actable at least on the discharge opening; a regulating portion configured to regulate flow of the developer into an entrance region of the fluid communication path; a movable portion configured to move the regulating portion toward and away from the entrance of the fluid communication path; an air flow path provided inside the regulating portion to permit fluid communication between the pump portion and the discharge opening; and an elastic member provided between the regulating portion and the chamber adjacent to the entrance of the fluid communication path.

Abstract: An image forming unit forms a toner image on an image carrier, and transfers the toner image to a recording medium. A voltage generation circuit generates a high voltage used for the image forming unit. A control circuit is connected to the voltage generation circuit via a cable, and controls the high voltage generated by the voltage generation circuit. A detection unit detects a current flowing in a load of the image forming unit to which the high voltage generated by the voltage generation circuit is applied. A determination unit determines an error in accordance with a current range in which the current detected by the detection unit falls. The current range is included among a plurality of current ranges that are in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of errors.

Abstract: A control method for a printing apparatus including a reading unit configured to read an image to generate image data includes printing, via a printing unit, an adjustment image, which is used to adjust a printing position, in such a way that the adjustment image is in contact with an end of a sheet, detecting the end of the sheet based on adjustment image data generated by the reading unit reading the adjustment image printed on the sheet by the printing unit, obtaining an amount of shift in the printing position based on the detected end of the sheet and the adjustment image data, and controlling, based on the obtained amount of shift in the printing position, the printing unit to print an image on the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a developing device to develop with developer a latent image formed on the image bearer, a developer container to contain developer, a temporary reservoir to temporarily store developer supplied from the developer container and having an outlet to discharge the temporarily stored developer to the developing device, a first conveyance device to transport developer from the developer container to the temporary reservoir, a second conveyance device to transport developer from the temporary reservoir to the developing device, a first developer amount detector to detect an amount of developer in the temporary reservoir, and a controller to control driving of the first conveyance device based on a detection result generated by the first developer amount detector and data relating to driving of the second conveyance device.