Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member onto a front side of which an image is transferred, a rotary member around which the transfer member is wrapped, a guide member provided at an end portion of an axial direction of the rotary member, a regulating member, a first reference mark, a second reference mark, a first detector, a second detector, and a controller. The regulating member is located on a reverse side of the transfer member, and restricts skew of the transfer member by contacting the guide member. The first and second reference marks are on edge sides of the transfer member in the axial direction of the rotary member. The first and second detectors detect the first and second reference marks, respectively. The controller controls alignment of the image on the transfer member in accordance with a detection result of the first and second detectors.

Abstract: There is provided a developer recovery device including: a casing; a recovery member disposed along an edge portion of the aperture portion; a sealing member disposed along an edge portion at a conveyance direction upstream side of the aperture portion; a moving section that moves the recovery member and the sealing member between a position of being touched against the developer-bearing member and a position of being apart from the developer-bearing member; a suction section that sucks the developer separated from the developer-bearing member into the casing; and a filter that is long in the length direction of the aperture portion and that is disposed in the casing between the aperture portion and the suction section with an inclination such that a lower portion of the filter is further away from the aperture portion than an upper portion of the filter.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a scrape-off member provided so as to contact an image carrying member, the scrape-off member scraping off powder adhered to a surface of the image carrying member; a net-like member provided between the contact portion of the scrape-off member and a duct, the net-like member trapping the scraped off powder by a flow of air; and the duct provided downstream from the net-like member in a direction of the flow of air, the duct sucking the air so as to guide the scraped off powder to the net-like member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member onto a front side of which an image is transferred, a rotary member around which the transfer member is wrapped, a guide member provided at an end portion of an axial direction of the rotary member, a regulating member, a first reference mark, a second reference mark, a first detector, a second detector, and a controller. The regulating member is located on a reverse side of the transfer member, and restricts skew of the transfer member by contacting the guide member. The first and second reference marks are on edge sides of the transfer member in the axial direction of the rotary member. The first and second detectors detect the first and second reference marks, respectively. The controller controls alignment of the image on the transfer member in accordance with a detection result of the first and second detectors.

Abstract: There is provided a developer recovery device including: a casing; a recovery member disposed along an edge portion of the aperture portion; a sealing member disposed along an edge portion at a conveyance direction upstream side of the aperture portion; a moving section that moves the recovery member and the sealing member between a position of being touched against the developer-bearing member and a position of being apart from the developer-bearing member; a suction section that sucks the developer separated from the developer-bearing member into the casing; and a filter that is long in the length direction of the aperture portion and that is disposed in the casing between the aperture portion and the suction section with an inclination such that a lower portion of the filter is further away from the aperture portion than an upper portion of the filter.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a transfer-receiving member onto which developer images are transferred and superimposed in sequence by switching over plural developing units that develop latent images on a latent image holding body with a developer to form developer images; a primary transfer section that primary transfers the developer image on the latent image holding body onto the transfer-receiving member; a secondary transfer section that secondary transfers the developer image on the transfer-receiving member onto a recording medium; and a selection section that selects a combination of a first process speed for the primary transfer and a second process speed for the secondary transfer according to the number of developing units employed.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image holder unit includes: first and second electrostatic latent image holders that have first and second functional layers, respectively, the first functional layer being different from the second functional layer in component ratio, and holds an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a contact type charging unit that is in contact with the first electrostatic latent image holder to charge a surface of the first electrostatic latent image holders at a predetermined electric potential level; a non-contact type charging unit that are spaced from the second electrostatic latent image holder, and charge a surface of the second electrostatic latent image holder at a predetermined electric potential level; an exposure unit that exposes the first and second electrostatic latent image holders to form an electrostatic latent image; and a development unit that develops the first and second electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image.

Abstract: A cleaning device of a charging roller has: a cleaning member contacting a charging roller which charges an image carrier which carries an image, and cleaning a surface of the charging roller; and a holding structure holding the cleaning member such that the cleaning member is movable at least between a first position and a second position along a peripheral direction of the charging roller. The holding structure holds the cleaning member such that an amount of compression of the cleaning member at a contacting portion of the charging roller and the cleaning member is greater at the second position than at the first position.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image holder unit includes: first and second electrostatic latent image holders that have first and second functional layers, respectively, the first functional layer being different from the second functional layer in component ratio, and holds an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a contact type charging unit that is in contact with the first electrostatic latent image holder to charge a surface of the first electrostatic latent image holders at a predetermined electric potential level; a non-contact type charging unit that are spaced from the second electrostatic latent image holder, and charge a surface of the second electrostatic latent image holder at a predetermined electric potential level; an exposure unit that exposes the first and second electrostatic latent image holders to form an electrostatic latent image; and a development unit that develops the first and second electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image.

Abstract: A cleaning device of a charging roller has: a cleaning member contacting a charging roller which charges an image carrier which carries an image, and cleaning a surface of the charging roller; and a holding structure holding the cleaning member such that the cleaning member is movable at least between a first position and a second position along a peripheral direction of the charging roller. The holding structure holds the cleaning member such that an amount of compression of the cleaning member at a contacting portion of the charging roller and the cleaning member is greater at the second position than at the first position.

Abstract: Premising a duplex imaging apparatus having an image carrier provided with a plurality of image carrying regions, the image deterioration phenomenon (i.e., the so-called “oil ghost phenomenon”), as might otherwise accompany the local transfer of a releasing agent from a fixing unit to the image carrier, is effectively avoided.

Abstract: Image deterioration (so-called oil ghost) due to local transfer of a release agent from a fuser to an intermediate transfer body is effectively prevented. The fuser has a pair of fixing members, a release supply mechanism, an interlocking mechanism, and an interlocking control mechanism. The fixing members are in contact with each other and roll over each other, thus nipping a sheet. The fixing members fix unfixed images on the sheet. The release agent supply mechanism is mounted to at least the fixing member located on the surface of the sheet carrying an unfixed image. The release agent supply mechanism supplies a release agent to this fixing member at a constant rate. The interlocking mechanism interlocks the fixing members and release agent supply mechanism with each other such that the fixing members are kept in contact with each other and roll over each other and that a release agent is supplied to the fixing members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer unit T2 including the inside transfer roll 29, the outside transfer roll 30 transfers the toner image from the toner image holding belt B onto the recording sheet that passes through the transfer region Q4 when transfer voltage is applied to between the inside transfer roll 29 and the outside transfer roll 30; electric-field adjusting conductive member 51 disposed in proximity to and along the inner side of the toner image holding belt B leaving the transfer region Q4 at a position located downstream of the transfer region Q4; and electric-field adjust-potential applying means 53; 54 applies a potential, which weakens an electric field developed between the outside transfer roll 30 and the inside transfer roll 29 in a region located downstream of the transfer region Q4, to the electric-field adjusting conductive member 51.