Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a transfer member, a cleaning blade, a driving portion, and a controller. The controller is capable of executing, at a time of an end of a job, a plurality of operations including a first reverse rotating operation, a first normal rotating operation executed subsequently to the first reverse rotating operation, a second reverse rotating operation executed after the first normal rotating operation, and a second normal rotating operation executed subsequently to the second reverse rotating operation. The controller controls the driving portion so that a movement amount of the image bearing member in the second normal rotating operation is smaller than a movement amount of the image bearing member in the second reverse rotating operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a transfer member, a cleaning blade, a driving portion, and a controller. The controller is capable of executing, at a time of an end of a job, a plurality of operations including a first reverse rotating operation, a first normal rotating operation executed subsequently to the first reverse rotating operation, a second reverse rotating operation executed after the first normal rotating operation, and a second normal rotating operation executed subsequently to the second reverse rotating operation. The controller controls the driving portion so that a movement amount of the image bearing member in the second normal rotating operation is smaller than a movement amount of the image bearing member in the second reverse rotating operation.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member and a developer container having a first chamber and a second chamber. A first conveyance screw in the first chamber conveys developer in a first direction, and a second conveyance screw in the second chamber includes a first rotation shaft portion and a first blade portion to convey the developer in a second direction. The second conveyance screw also includes a second rotation shaft portion formed coaxially with the first rotation shaft portion and a second blade portion disposed downstream of the first blade portion to convey the developer in the first direction. Each of the first blade portion and the second blade portion are disposed in the second direction to face a first communicating portion. In addition, a developer discharging portion disposed downstream of the second blade portion in the second direction discharges a part of the developer from the developing apparatus.

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 developing apparatus satisfies a following expression (A1?B1)×P1×N1?(A2?B2)×P2×N2 where A1 is an outer diameter of a first blade portion, B1 is an outer diameter of a first rotation shaft portion, P1 is a spiral pitch of the first blade portion, N1 is a number of threads of the first blade portion, A2 is an outer diameter of a second blade portion, B2 is an outer diameter of a second rotation shaft portion, P2 is a spiral pitch of the second blade portion, and N2 is a number of threads of the second blade portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control portion, and in a first period from when use of a developing apparatus is started until when an amount of developer in a developing device reaches a predetermined amount larger than an amount of initial developer, when an amount of developer supplied from a supplying portion through a single supplying operation in an image forming operation is larger than a predetermined supplied amount, the control portion interrupts the image forming operation and drives a conveyance portion for a predetermined time. In a second period after the amount of the developer reaches the predetermined amount, when an amount of the supplying developer supplied through a single supplying operation in the image forming operation is larger than the predetermined supplied amount, the control portion continues the image forming operation without interruption.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing apparatus, a developer accommodating container, a density detecting portion, and, an execution unit. The density detecting portion configured to output an output voltage corresponding to a toner density in the developer container if a control voltage is applied to the density detecting portion. The execution unit configured to execute a mode if an initial setting of the density detecting portion is performed in the state where the developer accommodating container is attached to the image forming apparatus at an attachment position in an initial installation of the image forming apparatus. In the mode, the execution unit sets a preset control voltage as the control voltage to be applied to the density detecting portion when an image is formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a density detecting portion configured to detect a density of a control toner image being formed every time when an image is formed on a predetermined number of sheets in successively forming the image on sheets, and a control portion configured to control an amount of supplying developer. The control portion controls forming of the control toner image so that the predetermined number of image-formed sheets is a first number in a period of time from when the use of a developing apparatus is started, until when an amount of developer of the developing apparatus reaches a set value which is larger than an amount of initial developer, and the predetermined number of image-formed sheets is a second number which is larger than the first number of image-formed images, after the amount of developer of the developing apparatus reaches the set value.

Abstract: A first amount of developer is sealed in a container of a developing unit in an initial state where the developing unit is not yet used. A discharge portion is configured to discharge the developer from the container in a case where the developer contained in the container exceeds a predetermined amount greater than the first amount. A permeability sensor is configured to output a detection signal correlated with a magnetic permeability of the developer within the container. A controller is configured to use different values of a control signal, for adjusting an input-output relationship between the magnetic permeability of the developer in the container and the detection signal output from the permeability sensor, in a state where a second amount greater than the first amount of the developer is contained in the container and in a state where the first amount of the developer is contained in the container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member, a developing device, and a controller configured to execute an operation in a forced consumption mode. The controller includes a difference calculating portion, an integrating portion, and a flag. In a case where the flag is set when a predetermined time is elapsed after the integrated value exceeds the predetermined threshold, the image formation on the predetermined number of the recording materials is effected and then the controller executes the operation in the forced consumption mode, and in a case where the flag is reset when the predetermined time is elapsed after the integrated value exceeds the predetermined threshold, the image formation on the predetermined number of the recording materials is effected and then the controller continues an image forming operation without executing the operation in the forced consumption mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member, a developing device, and a controller configured to execute an operation in a forced consumption mode. The controller includes a difference calculating portion, an integrating portion, and a flag. In a case where the flag is set when a predetermined time is elapsed after the integrated value exceeds the predetermined threshold, the image formation on the predetermined number of the recording materials is effected and then the controller executes the operation in the forced consumption mode, and in a case where the flag is reset when the predetermined time is elapsed after the integrated value exceeds the predetermined threshold, the image formation on the predetermined number of the recording materials is effected and then the controller continues an image forming operation without executing the operation in the forced consumption mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member, a developing device, and a controller configured to execute an operation in a forced consumption mode. The controller includes a difference calculating portion, an integrating portion, and a flag. In a case where the flag is set when a predetermined time is elapsed after the integrated value exceeds the predetermined threshold, the image formation on the predetermined number of the recording materials is effected and then the controller executes the operation in the forced consumption mode, and in a case where the flag is reset when the predetermined time is elapsed after the integrated value exceeds the predetermined threshold, the image formation on the predetermined number of the recording materials is effected and then the controller continues an image forming operation without executing the operation in the forced consumption mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to execute a discharging operation for discharging a toner from a developing device onto an image bearing member in a region corresponding to an interval between a recording material and a subsequent recording material in a continuous image forming job. The controller executes the discharging operation on the basis of integral information based on a relationship of a predetermined deterioration threshold with a value correlating with an amount of toner consumption. The controller changes the relationship based on a detected temperature upon toner consumption, and the controller changes the relationship so that when a temperature obtained on the basis of detected information is not less than a predetermined temperature, execution of the discharging operation is promoted more than when the obtained temperature is less than a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: In a developing device in which initial developer is sealed in and a developer discharge mechanism (a trickle mechanism, or an ACR mechanism) is provided, the driving-torque load generated in the developing device is suppressed, regardless of the state of distribution of the developer that is sealed in the developing device. The order of releasing seals provided over openings is defined as follows. First, a seal provided on the downstream side of a stirring chamber starts to be released. Then, a seal provided over a discharge port is released. Lastly, a seal provided on the upstream side of the stirring chamber starts to be released.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a developing container, a developing sleeve, a developer regulating member, and a magnetic field generating portion. The magnetic field generating portion includes a drawing-up pole and a cut pole. In addition, in a peak-to-peak area, the magnetic field generating portion includes at least one of an Fr flat area in which Fr is substantially constant and an Fr attenuation area in which Fr attenuates toward the cut pole side from the drawing-up pole side, and is configured that F? is oriented toward the same direction as a direction of rotation of the developing sleeve in the entire peak-to-peak area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing device, a supplying device, and a controller. The controller can execute a normal supply mode and a forced supply mode on the basis of a difference between a toner supply amount in the normal supply mode and a supply amount of the toner to be supplied to the developing device. In a case where the flag is set when a predetermined time is elapsed after the difference exceeds the predetermined threshold, image formation is effected and then interrupted, and then the controller executes the operation in the forced supply mode, and in a case where the flag is reset when the predetermined time is elapsed after the difference exceeds the predetermined threshold, the image formation is effected and then said controller continues an image forming operation without executing the operation in the forced supply mode.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member, a first chamber, a second chamber, a first feeding member, and a second feeding member. The second feeding member includes first to third spiral portions and a disk portion. The disk portion includes a projected portion. When the disk portion is seen in an axial direction of the second feeding member, on the basis of a line connecting a rotation center of the disk portion and an upstream end portion of the third spiral portion with respect to a feeding direction of the third spiral portion, the projected portion is provided within a range from a position deviated by 90 degrees toward a downstream side with respect to a rotational direction of the disk portion to a position deviated by 30 degrees toward an upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the disk portion.

Abstract: In a developing device in which initial developer is sealed in and a developer discharge mechanism (a trickle mechanism, or an ACR mechanism) is provided, the driving-torque load generated in the developing device is suppressed, regardless of the state of distribution of the developer that is sealed in the developing device. The order of releasing seals provided over openings is defined as follows. First, a seal provided on the downstream side of a stirring chamber starts to be released. Then, a seal provided over a discharge port is released. Lastly, a seal provided on the upstream side of the stirring chamber starts to be released.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member, a first chamber, a second chamber, a first feeding member, and a second feeding member. The second feeding member includes first to third spiral portions and a disk portion. The disk portion includes a projected portion. When the disk portion is seen in an axial direction of the second feeding member, on the basis of a line connecting a rotation center of the disk portion and an upstream end portion of the third spiral portion with respect to a feeding direction of the third spiral portion, the projected portion is provided within a range from a position deviated by 90 degrees toward a downstream side with respect to a rotational direction of the disk portion to a position deviated by 30 degrees toward an upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the disk portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a containing unit that contains a developer including toner and forms an image based on image data by using the toner, a supply unit that supplies the toner into the containing unit, a consumption amount calculation unit that calculates, based on information related to a density of an image corresponding to the image data, a consumption amount in the containing unit, a detection unit that detects a toner density of the developer in the containing unit, a correction amount calculation unit that calculates, based on the information and the toner density detected by the detection unit, a correction amount by which the consumption amount is corrected, and a controller that controls the supply unit based on the consumption amount and the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculation unit.