Abstract: A cleaning device and process cartridge comprising same for an image formation apparatus, which prevents cleaning failures due to toner slipping past a blade, based on an equation for the force of toner particle rotation and the restraining force. Toner on an image carrier is removed by a blade. The relation between the blade and the image carrier satisfies the equation f(?)=?2??1×(Ntp/Nbt+cos ?)>0. Here ?1 is the friction coefficient between toner and image carrier, ?2 is the friction coefficient between toner and blade, Ntp is the adhesive force between toner and image carrier, Nbt is the force received by the toner from the blade, and ? is the angle formed by the blade and image carrier (the cleaning angle).

Abstract: A laser printer for forming toner images on sheets includes a duct wall and a shutter. The duct wall extends between a process cartridge, which is filled with toner, and a thermal fixing unit, which generates heat to fix toner images onto the sheets. The duct wall defines a duct and is formed with openings at its side that faces the thermal fixing unit. A fan is provided for drawing hot air from the thermal fixing unit, through the openings in the duct wall and the duct itself, and out from the laser printer. The shutter moves in and out of contact with the process cartridge in association with opening and closing movement of a cover of the laser printer. When the shutter is in contact with the process cartridge, an exhaust chamber is formed that connects an ozone exhaust hole of the process cartridge with the duct. Another fan is provided for drawing the ozone generated by a charge unit of the process cartridge through the ozone exhaust hole, the exhaust chamber, and the duct.

Abstract: In a cleaning device cleans off toners from a surface of an image carrier and a collection roller. The toners have a roundness of 0.96 degrees to 1.00 degrees. The cleaning device includes a brush roller that cleans toners from the image carrier, the collection roller that cleans toners from the brush roller, and a cleaning unit that cleans toner from the collection roller. The cleaning unit includes a blade that abuts a surface of the collection roller; a vibrating unit that vibrates the blade; and an oscillating unit that oscillates the vibrating unit. The cleaning unit cleans off toners by a vibration of a portion of the blade in which portion the blade member contacts with the collection roller.

Abstract: The discharge lamp according to the present invention is composed of a slender translucent airtight vessel 1a, an inner electrode 1c fixed inside one end of 1a, a discharge lamp 1 provided with a discharge medium composed mainly of rare gas, and an outer electrode 2 composed of a conductive wire arranged on the outer surface of translucent airtight vessel 1a. The outer electrode 2 is placed within a half circumference of the translucent airtight vessel in a first area 2a of the translucent airtight vessel 1a, which extends in a range between a top end of the inner electrode 1c and a position having a predetermined length in the forward direction of the translucent airtight vessel 1a. The outer electrode 2 is placed within an entire circumference of the translucent airtight vessel 1a in a second area 2b of the translucent airtight vessel 1a, which extends in the rest of the length of the translucent airtight vessel 1a.

Abstract: A device included in an image forming apparatus for removing a substance that disfigures an image. The device includes an adsorbent support that supports an adsorbent. The absorbent has a molecular structure including voids that have a diameter great enough to pass molecules of the disfiguring substance which is deposited on the surface of an image carrier and contain water.

Abstract: A front cover and an upper panel of the image forming device is engaged with each other by an engagement mechanism. The engagement mechanism includes a claw and an engagement member that engages with the claw. The claw is disposed on an upper section of the front cover, and the engagement member is disposed on the upper panel. The engagement mechanism further includes surfaces of the front cover and ribs that abut the surfaces. The ribs are provided to the upper section of the front cover and protrude in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the front cover is opened and closed.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing noise ascribable to wind noise of fans by performing control of the rotation speed of each cooling fan even during a print process. After power-on at timing T0, when a fixing temperature reaches a waiting temperature (timing T1) or after a print process is finished (timings T3, T6, and T9), a laser printer 1 enters a ready mode and a sub-fan and a power supply fan are driven to rotate at middle speed. From the start of a print process performed for the first time (timing T2), until timing T5 at which a counter X has counted four minutes, each fan is driven to rotate at middle speed during the print process (timings T2 to T3 and T4 to T5). After the, each fan is driven to rotate at high speed (timings T5 to T6 and T8 to T9). Then, when a counter Y has counted a time period set for the ready mode and then a counter Z has counted a time period set for a sleep mode, the counter X is reset.

Abstract: A direct-current to direct-current conversion (DC/DC) apparatus includes a control circuit having an error amplifier for voltage control and controlling a direct-current to direct-current conversion based on a pulse width modulation control using an output of the error amplifier. The error amplifier inputs a voltage signal corresponding to an output voltage of a DC/DC result and a plurality of reference voltage signals. The DC/DC apparatus also includes a soft start capacitor to provide one of the plurality of reference voltage signals. The error amplifier amplifies a difference between the voltage signal corresponding to the output voltage of a DC/DC result and a voltage signal of a lower potential among the plurality of reference voltage signals and, based on the amplified output, carries out the pulse width modulation control.

Abstract: A power supply control circuit connectable with an input power monitor that monitors an input power value to the power supply, an output power monitor that monitors an output power value from the power supply, and an output power controller that varies the output power value from the power supply, the power supply control circuit having an output power determiner that determines a determined output power value depending on the input power value and a power adjuster that adjusts the output power value to the determined output power value by controlling the output power controller.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp of this invention has a phosphor film formed on the inner wall surface and a discharge medium containing xenon-gas filled in the glass tube having the sealing portions at both ends. In this one end in the glass tube, an inner electrode is arranged and a first feeding lead wire connected to this inner electrode is connected to one of the sealing portion by penetrating airtight. On the outer surface of the glass tube, an outer electrode composed of a conductor spirally wound round it along the axial direction of the tube. At the other end of the glass tube, a second feeding lead wire is buried in the sealing portion and the other end is lead out of the glass tube. The end of this outer electrode is electrically connected to the second feeding lead wire and mechanically fixed there.

Abstract: The fluorescent lamp has a glass tube 1 on the inner surface of which a phosphor film 2 is provided. A discharge medium including at least a xenon gas is enclosed in the glass tube. An inner electrode 3 is sealed at least at one end of the glass tube 1 through which a lead terminal 4 is led out. An outer electrode 5 composed of a conductor wire 5a which is wound spirally around the outer surface of the glass tube 1 along almost the entire length. A heat shrinkage resin tube 6 coats the outer surface of the glass tube 1 including the outer electrode 5. The creeping distance along the surface of the glass tube surface between the portion where the lead terminal 4 is led out of the glass tube 1 and an end portion 5b of the conductor wire 5a composing the outer electrode 5 is selected as at least 2 mm.

Abstract: A direct-current to direct-current conversion (DC/DC) apparatus includes a control circuit having an error amplifier for voltage control and controlling a direct-current to direct-current conversion based on a pulse width modulation control using an output of the error amplifier. The error amplifier inputs a voltage signal corresponding to an output voltage of a DC/DC result and a plurality of reference voltage signals. The DC/DC apparatus also includes a soft start capacitor to provide one of the plurality of reference voltage signals. The error amplifier amplifies a difference between the voltage signal corresponding to the output voltage of a DC/DC result and a voltage signal of a lower potential among the plurality of reference voltage signals and, based on-the amplified output, carries out the pulse width modulation control.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing noise ascribable to wind noise of fans by performing control of the rotation speed of each cooling fan even during a print process. After power-on at timing T0, when a fixing temperature reaches a waiting temperature (timing T1) or after a print process is finished (timings T3, T6, and T9), a laser printer 1 enters a ready mode and a sub-fan and a power supply fan are driven to rotate at middle speed. From the start of a print process performed for the first time (timing T2), until timing T5 at which a counter X has counted four minutes, each fan is driven to rotate at middle speed during the print process (timings T2 to T3 and T4 to T5). After the, each fan is driven to rotate at high speed (timings T5 to T6 and T8 to T9). Then, when a counter Y has counted a time period set for the ready mode and then a counter Z has counted a time period set for a sleep mode, the counter X is reset.

Abstract: By using a duct, an image forming device in which an upper portion of a thermal fixing mechanism and an optical mechanism can be cooled. A fixing unit is disposed on the left side of the duct. A first auxiliary plate, which supports a scanner unit having a drive motor, is disposed above an upper opening of the duct. A process cartridge is disposed with its end next to the right side of the duct, and a second auxiliary plate is disposed below the duct. A power source is placed under the second auxiliary plate. Accordingly, cooling air from an intake fan is directed to four directions: between an upper portion of the fixing unit and the first auxiliary plate, to the underside of the first auxiliary plate, to the end of the process cartridge, and to the power source.

Abstract: A power supply control circuit connectable with an input power monitor that monitors an input power value to the power supply, an output power monitor that monitors an output power value from the power supply, and an output power controller that varies the output power value from the power supply, the power supply control circuit having an output power determiner that determines a determined output power value depending on the input power value and a power adjuster that adjusts the output power value to the determined output power value by controlling the output power controller.

Abstract: A laser printer for forming toner images on sheets includes a duct wall and a shutter. The duct wall extends between a process cartridge, which is filled with toner, and a thermal fixing unit, which generates heat to fix toner images onto the sheets. The duct wall defines a duct and is formed with openings at its side that faces the thermal fixing unit. A fan is provided for drawing hot air from the thermal fixing unit, through the openings in the duct wall and the duct itself, and out from the laser printer. The shutter moves in and out of contact with the process cartridge in association with opening and closing movement of a cover of the laser printer. When the shutter is in contact with the process cartridge, an exhaust chamber is formed that connects an ozone exhaust hole of the process cartridge with the duct. Another fan is provided for drawing the ozone generated by a charge unit of the process cartridge through the ozone exhaust hole, the exhaust chamber, and the duct.

Abstract: A direct-current to direct-current conversion (DC/DC) apparatus includes a control circuit having an error amplifier for voltage control and controlling a direct-current to direct-current conversion based on a pulse width modulation control using an output of the error amplifier. The error amplifier inputs a voltage signal corresponding to an output voltage of a DC/DC result and a plurality of reference voltage signals. The DC/DC apparatus also includes a soft start capacitor to provide one of the plurality of reference voltage signals. The error amplifier amplifies a difference between the voltage signal corresponding to the output voltage of a DC/DC result and a voltage signal of a lower potential among the plurality of reference voltage signals and, based on the amplified output, carries out the pulse width modulation control.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive element including a conductive support rotatably supported and a charge injection layer and a surface protection layer sequentially laminated on the conductive support. A charger includes a conductive body for injecting, when a preselected voltage is applied thereto, a charge in the charge injection layer in contact with the surface protection layer. A writing unit exposes the charged surface of the photoconductive element imagewise to thereby locally vary the potential deposited on the photoconductive element and electrostatically form a latent image. A developing unit develops the latent image to thereby produce a corresponding toner image. The toner image is transferred from the photoconductive element to a recording medium.

Abstract: A device included in an image forming apparatus for removing a substance that disfigures an image is disclosed. The device includes an adsorbent support supporting an adsorbent. The absorbent has a molecular structure including voids that have a diameter great enough to pass molecules of the disfiguring substance, which is deposited on the surface of an image carrier, therethrough and contain water therein.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive element including a conductive support rotatably supported and a charge injection layer and a surface protection layer sequentially laminated on the conductive support. A charger includes a conductive body for injecting, when a preselected voltage is applied thereto, a charge in the charge injection layer in contact with the surface protection layer. A writing unit exposes the charged surface of the photoconductive element imagewise to thereby locally vary the potential deposited on the photoconductive element and electrostatically form a latent image. A developing unit develops the latent image to thereby produce a corresponding toner image. The toner image is transferred from the photoconductive element to a recording medium.