Abstract: An example print device may comprise a consumable component comprising a human-indiscernible hardware-based identifier. The example print device may also comprise a sensor to read the human-indiscernible hardware-based identifier.

Abstract: A print apparatus component to be cleaned is rotated about a rotational axis. A cleaning element having a cleaning surface in contact with the print apparatus component is rotated. The cleaning element is oscillated in a direction parallel to the rotational axis. Rotation and oscillation of the cleaning element are varied according to a predetermined function to remove a residue from the print apparatus component.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a rotating body; a sprocket provided coaxially with the rotating body, the sprocket being configured to rotate integrally with the rotating body; a chain including a holder configured to hold a leading end portion of a recording medium, the chain being wound on the sprocket, the chain being configured to rotate so as to transport the recording medium; an annular shaped transfer belt supported by an opposing member opposing the rotating body at an opposing position, the transfer belt being configured to sandwich the recording medium transported by the chain between the transfer belt and the rotating body at the opposing position, in which an image on an outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt is transferred to the recording medium in response to a transfer bias being applied between the rotating body and the opposing member; and a forming member that supports the transfer belt on an upstream side of the opposing position in a transport direction, the forming member be

Abstract: A grounding structure for an endless belt includes: an endless belt including a conductive layer, the endless belt being configured to move; a conductive conducting unit that is in contact with the conductive layer which is exposed at an end surface of the conducting unit in a direction intersecting a moving direction of the endless belt such that the conducting unit is electrically connected to the conductive layer; a pressure contacting unit that brings the conducting unit into pressure contact with the end surface of the conductive layer of the endless belt; and a grounding unit that grounds the conducting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, an intermediate transfer belt, a plurality of rollers, a correction mechanism, and a belt cleaning unit. The intermediate transfer belt has an endless shape, and toner images respectively formed on the plurality of image carriers are sequentially overlaid and transferred thereto. The correction mechanism moves one end side in an axial direction of a tension roller along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, so as to correct meandering of the intermediate transfer belt with respect to the tension roller. The belt cleaning unit includes a cleaning blade that is disposed in such a manner that its tip portion contacts with an outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt at a position facing the tension roller via the intermediate transfer belt, so as to remove extraneous matter from the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing member to carry developer stored by a developing frame, and a regulating blade having a support plate fixed to the developing frame, a plate-like member, and a regulating member. One end portion of the plate-like member is opposed to the developing member, and the other end portion is welded to the support plate. The regulating member is fixed to a plate-like member surface, and contacts the developing member to regulate a developer thickness on a developing surface. The regulating member is provided with a recessed portion recessed at a regulating member end portion. The regulating member end portion is lower than a regulating member central portion. A plate-like member region welded to the support plate is located at the plate-like member other end portion and overlaps the regulating member central portion and the regulating member end portion at which the recessed portion is provided.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a heater and a fixing belt. The fixing belt is electrically connected between a first power source and a ground terminal. A controller is configured to control the heater to heat the fixing belt. The controller is further configured to determine whether a current is flowing through the fixing belt and, upon determining that a current is not flowing through the fixing belt, control the heater not to heat the fixing belt.

Abstract: A filter unit (300) includes: a chassis (303) that has a suction portion (301) provided at a front side thereof, has an exhaust portion (302) provided at a rear side thereof, and is provided internally with an upstream filter (331); a plurality of upstream first ribs (323) disposed parallel to sidewalls of the chassis (303) to rise from a bottom surface (322) of the chassis (303) and forming an upstream first airflow path (P11); a plurality of upstream second ribs (313) disposed parallel to the sidewalls of the chassis (303) to rise from a ceiling surface (312) of the chassis (303) and forming an upstream second airflow path (P21); an upstream first shield plate (315) raised from the ceiling surface (312) to cover up a front of the upstream filter (331) while forming an upstream first gap (S11) with the bottom surface (322); and an upstream second shield plate (325) raised from the bottom surface (322) to cover up a rear of the upstream filter (331) while forming an upstream second gap (S21) with the ceiling

Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a toner cartridge, a connector and a relay board. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The developing unit includes a magnetic roller, a developer container, a conveyer member and a toner sensor. The developer container accommodates therein carrier, and has an inlet. The conveyer member is positioned in the developer container, and configured to convey toner and the carrier from the inlet toward the magnetic roller. The toner cartridge accommodates therein toner and is attachable to the developer container to replenish toner in the developer container through the inlet. The connector is electrically connected to an image forming apparatus. The relay board electrically connects the toner sensor to the connector. The relay board is configured to transmit a detection signal from the toner sensor to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing film that can revolve, a contact member that comes into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the fixing film, a pressure roller that press-contacts the fixing film from an outside of the fixing film toward the contact member to form a fixing nip area between the fixing film and the pressure roller, a heater that heats the fixing film, and a reflective member that reflects light emitted from the heater toward the fixing film. A protective member that allows irradiation of the light to the fixing film is provided between the heater and the fixing film.

Abstract: A fixing device is configured to be detachably attached to an image forming device main body. The fixing device includes a fixing member, a heating source, a pressing member, a conveyance guide member, an exterior member, a relay substrate, and a substrate covering member. The fixing member is configured to heat a toner image so as to fix the toner image on a recording medium. The heating source is configured to heat the fixing member. The pressing member is configured to press against the fixing member to form a nip part. The conveyance guide member is configured to guide the recording medium to the nip part. The exterior member houses at least the fixing member and the pressing member. The substrate covering member covers the relay substrate. The substrate covering member extends from and is integrated with the conveyance guide member.

Abstract: Provided is a developer carrying member that can stably form a high-quality electrophotographic image. The developer carrying member includes an electroconductive support and a surface layer in the stated order, wherein the surface layer contains a binder resin and electroconductive particles, and a content of the electroconductive particles in a region from a surface of the surface layer opposite to an outer surface thereof on a side facing the electroconductive support to a depth of 150 nm is 1% or more and 25% or less, and wherein the surface layer has a volume resistivity of 1.0×10?2 ?·cm or more and 1.0×102?·cm or less.

Abstract: A transfer device includes: an annular transfer belt including an outer surface, a toner image being transferred to the outer surface of the annular transfer belt; a transfer unit including a transfer cylinder; and a facing roller member that is in contact with an inner surface of the transfer belt, in which the transfer cylinder includes a base material, and a surface layer wound around an outer circumference of the base material, the surface layer being replaceable with respect to the base material, the transfer cylinder has a transfer region where the toner image is transferred from the transfer belt to a recording medium in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched between the transfer cylinder and the outer surface of the transfer belt, the surface layer includes an elastic layer, the surface layer has a thickness of 6.0 mm or more and 10 mm or less and an Asker C hardness of 45° or more and 65° or less, and the facing roller member faces the transfer cylinder in the transfer region.

Abstract: An apparatus body includes a housing, a drawer, a push-out mechanism, and a positioner. The drawer is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The push-out mechanism pushes out the drawer by a predetermined amount from a setting position at which the drawer is positioned in the housing. The positioner positions the drawer at the setting position in the housing. The positioner includes a fitting hole disposed in one of the housing and the drawer and a positioning pin disposed in the other of the housing and the drawer. The positioning pin positions the drawer at the setting position in the housing in response to fitting of the positioning pin into the fitting hole. The positioning pin and the fitting hole each have a form that releases the fitting in response to pushing out of the drawer by the predetermined amount from the setting position.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an image carrier to carry a toner image, and a transfer medium having a transfer surface to receive the toner image from the image carrier. The transfer surface of the transfer medium has a resistance component of 14.6 to 17.7 log ?·cm for an alternating current having a frequency range of 1 mHz to 1 Hz.

Abstract: An interface drive coupler for a replaceable unit of an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a first component and a second component coaxial with the first component along a rotational axis of the interface drive coupler. A force receiving portion is positioned on the first component and a force transmitting portion is positioned on the second component. One of the first component and the second component includes a male connector and the other of the first component and the second component includes a female connector that matably receives the male connector. Each of the male connector and the female connector includes a helical thread that extends circumferentially around the rotational axis of the interface drive coupler and that is angled in an operative rotational direction of the interface drive coupler in a direction from the force receiving portion toward the force transmitting portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat source for radiating heat onto an intermediate printing material transfer element of a printing apparatus. The heat source can include a plurality of heat generating segments disposed along an axis, the plurality of heat generating segments including a first heat generating segment, a second heat generating segment and a third heat generating segment. The second heat generating segment is disposed between the first heat generating segment and the third heat generating segment. The second heat generating segment has a length shorter than a length of the first heat generating segment and shorter than a length of the third heat generating segment. Also disclosed is a printing system that includes the disclosed heat source. Also disclosed is a method of selecting a heat radiating pattern of a heat source.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main casing, an opening-closing member configured to open and close an opening on a side of the main casing and to move between an open position and a closed position, a belt unit configured to move between a first position and a second position, a drum unit configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, a developing device unit configured to move in an arrangement direction of developing rollers, and an interlock mechanism configured such that in response to a movement of the opening-closing member from the closed position to the open position, the belt unit moves from the first position to the second position and the drum unit moves from the third position to the fourth position.

Abstract: In an example, a photosensitive imaging surface is provided by an extended photodiode structure.

Abstract: An image forming device, including: a drawer movable from an inside position where the drawer is located inside a housing to an outside position where the drawer is located outside the housing via an intermediate position; a stopper movable between a first position where the stopper stops the drawer from moving from the intermediate position to the outside position and a second position where the stopper allows the drawer to move from the intermediate position to the outside position; a drum cartridge mountable on the drawer; and a toner cartridge mountable on the drawer; wherein the toner cartridge mounted on the drawer is detachable from the drawer in a state in which the drawer is located at the intermediate position, and wherein the drum cartridge mounted on the drawer is detachable from the drawer in a state in which the drawer is located at the outside position.