Abstract: A toner container includes a container body, a shutter, and an operation member. The container body contains a toner and has a discharging port discharging the toner. The shutter opens or closes the discharging port. The operation member is operated between a first operation position making the shutter close the discharging port and a second operation position making the shutter open the discharging port. In an upper face of the container body, a recessed part is provided in an area including an end at a side of the operation member. In the recessed part, an inclined face inclined upwardly from an upstream side to a downstream side in an operation direction when the operation member is operated from the first operation position to the second operation position is provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member to transfer a toner image borne on s photosensitive member onto a conveyed recording material on receiving voltage from a power supply. Where an image is formed at a transfer portion on a first recording material and a subsequent second recording material, a time interval is changed to a first or second interval based on information concerning the transfer onto the first recording material. The second recording material has a second width greater than a first width of the first recording material. The time interval is from when a first recording material trailing edge passes through the transfer portion to when a second recording material leading edge reaches the transfer portion. The photosensitive member rotates one or less rotations during the first interval and rotates one or more rotations during the second interval.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus measures the distance between the image forming apparatus and an object located in the periphery of the image forming apparatus each predetermined amount of time. Then, whether or not the object is a human is detected on the basis of the measured distance and a moving amount of the object each predetermined amount of time. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus controls the power supply state of the image forming apparatus in accordance with the result of the human detection.

Abstract: A pressing rotator can contact a rotatable member. An arm rotatably supports the pressing rotator and changes the distance from a rotation center of the pressing rotator to the rotatable member by rotation. A pusher is rotatable around a rotation center of the arm. An elastic member is located between the arm and the pusher and biases the arm in a direction in which the pressing rotator contacts the rotatable member. A cam follower is mounted on the pusher. The cam can contact A cam follower and is rotatable around a first rotation center. The distance from the rotation center of the arm to the first rotation center of the cam is shorter than the distance from the rotation center of the arm to the center of the cam follower.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a permeability sensor configured to detect information on magnetic permeability of developer contained in a developer container for detecting toner density of the developer, and a controller configured to control a control voltage applied to the permeability sensor so that (i) a value of the control voltage that is applied to the permeability sensor in a case where a predetermined condition including a condition that the toner density of the developer contained in the developer container is a predetermined density is satisfied and an amount of the developer contained in the developer container is a first amount is greater than (ii) a value of the control voltage applied to the permeability sensor in a case where the predetermined condition is satisfied and the amount of the developer contained in the developer container is a second amount greater than the first amount.

Abstract: A controller controls a charging unit to charge a photosensitive member so that a surface potential of the photosensitive member is controlled to a first potential, controls an exposure unit to expose the photosensitive member so that a potential of an exposure region on the photosensitive member is controlled to a second potential, controls a surface potential of a developing sleeve of a developing unit to a third potential, and forms a test image on a sheet by controlling the photosensitive member, the charging unit, the exposure unit, and the developing unit. An absolute value of the first potential is higher than an absolute value of the second potential. An absolute value of the third potential is higher than the absolute value of the first potential.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charge member, a transfer unit, an application unit, a cleaning member, a detection unit that detects an index value, and a control unit that, in a case where one or a plurality of consecutive toner images for which the index value is equal to or greater than a first threshold value is formed, performs control which increases an absolute value of the transfer voltage for a toner image to be formed next, and in a case where one or a plurality of consecutive toner images for which the index value is less than a second threshold value equal to or greater than the first threshold value is formed, performs control which decreases an absolute value of the transfer voltage for a toner image to be formed next.

Abstract: A fixing member adapted to fix a first optical member and a second optical member is provided, the fixing member is disposed between a first module and a second module. The fixing member includes a frame body, a first fixing structure and a second fixing structure. The frame body is fixed to the first module. The first fixing structure is connected with the frame body and configured to fix the first optical member to the first module. The second fixing structure is connected with the frame body and configured to fix the second optical member to the second module. A projector comprising the fixing member above is further provided.

Abstract: A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging roller and a cleaning roller that includes a core and a foamed elastic layer disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the core and that rotates in contact with a surface of the charging roller. The number of ends of a cell skeleton that protrude from a surface of the foamed elastic layer is 25 ends/mm2 or more and 50 ends/mm2 or less. The cleaning roller is disposed in contact with the charging roller such that the compression ratio of the foamed elastic layer is 30% or less. The compression ratio is represented by Equation (1): compression ratio (%)=(r1/2+r2/2?d)/t1×100??Equation (1): where r1 is the outer diameter (mm) of the cleaning roller, r2 is the outer diameter (mm) of the charging roller, d is the interaxial distance (mm) between the charging roller and the cleaning roller, and t1 is the thickness (mm) of the foamed elastic layer of the cleaning roller.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a memory and a controller. The memory stores identification information for identifying an installed developer container and first information associated with the identification information. The controller refers to association information which is stored in a server connected for communication to at least one image forming apparatus and includes information associated with the identification information for identifying the developer container used in the image forming apparatus and second information associated with the identification information. The controller performs control related to use of developer based on a comparison result between the first information associated with the identification information and the second information associated with identification information when the same identification information as the identification information stored in the memory is included in the association information.

Abstract: A conveying screw configured to convey a toner in an axial direction includes a conveying shaft part and a conveying blade. The conveying shaft part is configured to be rotated around an axis. The conveying blade is spirally formed around an outer circumferential face of the conveying shaft part and configured to convey a toner in a replenishment path. At least one spiral of the conveying blade is formed by two semicircular blade plates which are coupled to in postures inclined in opposite directions to each other. A through hole through which the toner is passed in the axial direction is formed in an area surrounded by the conveying shaft part and the two blade plates.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer; a heater below the developer; and a case for covering the heater. The apparatus further includes a first air duct of which an end in a first direction side communicates with the outside and which is formed at an inner side of the case, an end of the case in a second direction side opposite to the first direction side being blocked by a blocking plate; a duct arranged between the developer and the case, a second air duct of which an end on the first direction side communicates with the outside and contacting the case and which is formed at an inner side of the duct; a fan, arranged on the second direction side of both the first and second air ducts, configured to blow out air in the first direction side; a cover; and a guide.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit is electrically connected to processing circuitry mounted on the housing. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves outward from the first side of the housing along a side-to-side dimension of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit faces downward when the electrical connector is in the second position permitting the corresponding electrical contact to contact the electrical contact of the replaceable unit from below.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer member, and a light source. The image carrier has a photoconductive layer on a surface of the image carrier. The transfer member is configured to cause a toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to be transferred to a transferee member at a transfer position of the image carrier. The light source is configured to emit light toward the surface of the image carrier after transfer of the toner image to remove residual charges on the photoconductive layer. An effective light receiving width of the image carrier in a width direction thereof is less than a width of the transfer member.

Abstract: A drum cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a frame, a main body connector, a first toner cartridge connector, a drum-cartridge circuit board, a harness, and a first harness. The harness is electrically connected between the main body connector and the drum-cartridge circuit board. The harness extends in the first direction. The first harness is electrically connected between the first toner cartridge connector and the drum-cartridge circuit board. The first harness extends in the second direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a developing device, which may include: a casing that stores developer containing toner; and a screw arranged inside the casing, wherein the screw includes: a rotary shaft; and a screw blade that is spirally arranged around the rotary shaft and conveys the toner from an upstream side to a downstream side by rotation of the rotary shaft, the screw blade includes a discontinuous region, a paddle extending in a radial direction of the rotary shaft is provided along an axial direction of the rotary shaft on a surface of the rotary shaft located in the discontinuous region, and a recess and a protrusion are provided at an edge side in a radial direction of the paddle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first toner consumption amount calculation section which calculates a toner consumption amount based on a toner replenishment operation; a coefficient calculation section which calculates a coefficient by dividing the toner consumption amount calculated by the first toner consumption amount calculation section by a number of pixels; a second toner consumption amount calculation section which calculates the toner consumption amount by multiplying the number of pixels by the coefficient calculated by the coefficient calculation section; and a near depletion detector which detects near depletion when a total toner consumption amount exceeds a near depletion threshold value.

Abstract: Providing a toner cartridge capable of restraining toner from leaking through an opening, and improving labor efficiency for assembling the cartridge. The toner cartridge (process cartridge 1) includes a developing frame having a storage chamber configured to store therein toner and formed with an opening to discharge the toner out of the storage chamber, a shaft rotatably supported to the developing frame; and an agitation sheet positioned in the storage chamber and having a base end portion supported to the shaft, the agitation sheet being rotationally movable along with rotation of the shaft. The developing frame includes a first wall formed with the opening, and a second wall configured to support the agitation sheet by nipping the agitation sheet positioned to close the opening between the first wall and the second wall, the second wall permitting the agitation sheet to contact with the first wall and contacting with the agitation sheet through an elastic member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to calculate an estimated value of a color misregistration amount based on a first estimation expression when a temperature of an exposure device is under a temperature increasing state. The image forming apparatus is configured to calculate the estimated value of the color misregistration amount based on the first estimation expression when the temperature of the exposure device is under the temperature decreasing state and the exposure device is not in a thermally-deformed state. The image forming apparatus is configured to calculate the estimated value of the color misregistration amount based on a second estimation expression when the temperature of the exposure device is in the temperature decreasing state and the exposure device is in the thermally-deformed state. The image forming apparatus is configured to correct color misregistration based on the calculated estimated value.