Abstract: A charged particle generator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating material that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. Charged particles are generated by discharge that occurs between the first and the second electrodes. The first electrode, the insulating material, and the second electrode are arranged in a first direction. The second electrode has a shape that does not intersect a path along which the charged particles move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A charged particle generator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating material that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second electrode has an opening that opens in a first direction in which the first electrode, the insulating material, and the second electrode are arranged. The insulating material has a region limiting space. The region limiting space corresponds to the opening. The region limiting space is continuous with the opening. The region limiting space is a space that opens in a direction in which the region limiting space is oriented toward the opening and that is limited in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first electrode has an anisotropic resistance portion in which a resistance component in the first direction is smaller than a resistance component in the second direction.

Abstract: A charging device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; an insulating body that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein either the first electrode or the second electrode includes an opening portion that is formed so as to open toward a first direction in which the first electrode, the insulating body, and the second electrode are laminated, and the insulating body includes a region limiting portion which is a space that communicates with the opening portion, and opens toward a direction in which the region limiting portion communicates with the opening portion, and is limited in a second direction vertical to the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image holding member and a charging unit. In a case in which an AC current, while being increased, is supplied to the charging unit in a state in which a DC voltage value and an AC voltage value applied to the charging unit are maintained, or a case in which a DC voltage, while being increased, is supplied to the charging unit in a state in which the AC voltage value applied to the charging unit is maintained, a current detection unit detects DC current values. An inflection point derivation unit derives an inflection point of a correlation line representing an correlation between the detected DC current values and the supply amounts. An execution unit executes pre-specified processing when a characteristic value of the derived inflection point reaches a pre-specified value.

Abstract: A charged particle generator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating material that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. Charged particles are generated by discharge that occurs between the first and the second electrodes. The first electrode, the insulating material, and the second electrode are arranged in a first direction. The second electrode has a shape that does not intersect a path along which the charged particles move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A charged particle generator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating material that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second electrode has an opening that opens in a first direction in which the first electrode, the insulating material, and the second electrode are arranged. The insulating material has a region limiting space. The region limiting space corresponds to the opening. The region limiting space is continuous with the opening. The region limiting space is a space that opens in a direction in which the region limiting space is oriented toward the opening and that is limited in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first electrode has an anisotropic resistance portion in which a resistance component in the first direction is smaller than a resistance component in the second direction.

Abstract: A charging device includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; an insulating body that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein either the first electrode or the second electrode includes an opening portion that is formed so as to open toward a first direction in which the first electrode, the insulating body, and the second electrode are laminated, and the insulating body includes a region limiting portion which is a space that communicates with the opening portion, and opens toward a direction in which the region limiting portion communicates with the opening portion, and is limited in a second direction vertical to the first direction.

Abstract: A total layer thickness detection apparatus for a charged body includes: a saturated charge amount detection unit that detects a saturated charge amount of a charged body having plural coating layers with mutually different relative dielectric constants; a storage unit that stores relation information indicating relation of change of the saturated charge amount of the charged body with respect to a change of layer thickness of a surface layer of the charged body; and a calculation part that calculates a total layer thickness of the plural coating layers of the charged body based on the change of the saturated charge amount detected by the saturated charge amount detection unit and the relation information stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image holding member and a charging unit. In a case in which an AC current, while being increased, is supplied to the charging unit in a state in which a DC voltage value and an AC voltage value applied to the charging unit are maintained, or a case in which a DC voltage, while being increased, is supplied to the charging unit in a state in which the AC voltage value applied to the charging unit is maintained, a current detection unit detects DC current values. An inflection point derivation unit derives an inflection point of a correlation line representing an correlation between the detected DC current values and the supply amounts. An execution unit executes pre-specified processing when a characteristic value of the derived inflection point reaches a pre-specified value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that rotates and carries a toner image by a surface layer disposed on a surface thereof; a charging roll that charges the surface layer while the image carrier completes one or more rotations; a power supply unit that supplies a current to the charging roll; a detector that samples and detects the current that the power supply unit outputs; a leak current detector that detects a leak current included in the current that the detector has detected; a layer thickness calculating unit that calculates a numerical value relating to the thickness of the surface layer on the basis of the current that the detector has detected; and a current leak state determining unit that determines a current leak state on the basis of the current that the detector has detected and the leak current that the leak current detector has detected.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that charges a body to be charged; a detector that detects an AC component of a current flowing through the charging member; an integration section that integrates the AC component of the current detected by the detector; a controller that controls the current flowing through the charging member, according to a result of integration executed by the integration section; a periodic signal generating section that generates a periodic signal having a cycle period corresponding to a cycle period of the AC component; and an integration period adjusting section that adjusts a period of integration executed by the integration section, with reference to the periodic signal.

Abstract: A total layer thickness detection apparatus for a charged body includes: a saturated charge amount detection unit that detects a saturated charge amount of a charged body having plural coating layers with mutually different relative dielectric constants; a storage unit that stores relation information indicating relation of change of the saturated charge amount of the charged body with respect to a change of layer thickness of a surface layer of the charged body; and a calculation part that calculates a total layer thickness of the plural coating layers of the charged body based on the change of the saturated charge amount detected by the saturated charge amount detection unit and the relation information stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: an image carrier that carries a developer image by a charge layer provided on a surface of the image carrier; a charger that charges the image carrier; a feeder that feeds the charger with a charge; a total charge amount detector that detects the total amount of the charge output by the feeder; an unsupplied charge amount calculator that calculates the amount of the charge output by the feeder but not supplied to the charger; and a layer thickness calculator that calculates the thickness of the charge layer based on the unsupplied charge amount calculated by the unsupplied charge amount calculator and the total charge amount detected by the total charge amount detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor that rotates, a charging member provided in contact with or in close proximity of the photoreceptor to charge the photoreceptor, a charge amount detecting portion that accumulates current flowing across the photoreceptor to obtain a charge amount of the photoreceptor, while the current is being applied from the charging member until a voltage on a surface of the photoreceptor substantially corresponds to the voltage applied by the charging member, and a controller that calculates a film thickness of the photoreceptor based on the charge amount.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that charges a body to be charged; a detector that detects an AC component of a current flowing through the charging member; an integration section that integrates the AC component of the current detected by the detector; a controller that controls the current flowing through the charging member, according to a result of integration executed by the integration section; a periodic signal generating section that generates a periodic signal having a cycle period corresponding to a cycle period of the AC component; and an integration period adjusting section that adjusts a period of integration executed by the integration section, with reference to the periodic signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor having a photoconductive layer on an outer surface thereof; a charging portion that charges the photoconductor; a developing portion that develops a latent image formed on the photoconductor; a transfer portion that transfers a developed image; current detectors respectively provided to the charging portion, the developing portion, and the transfer portion to detect currents respectively flowing from the charging portion, the developing portion, and the transfer portion to the photoconductor; an integrating portion that calculates a charge amount by integrating the currents detected by the current detectors over a given period of time; and a layer thickness calculating portion that calculates a thickness of the photoconductive layer based on the charge amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that rotates and carries a toner image by a surface layer disposed on a surface thereof; a charging roll that charges the surface layer while the image carrier completes one or more rotations; a power supply unit that supplies a current to the charging roll; a detector that samples and detects the current that the power supply unit outputs; a leak current detector that detects a leak current included in the current that the detector has detected; a layer thickness calculating unit that calculates a numerical value relating to the thickness of the surface layer on the basis of the current that the detector has detected; and a current leak state determining unit that determines a current leak state on the basis of the current that the detector has detected and the leak current that the leak current detector has detected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: an image carrier that carries a developer image by a charge layer provided on a surface of the image carrier; a charger that charges the image carrier; a feeder that feeds the charger with a charge; a total charge amount detector that detects the total amount of the charge output by the feeder; an unsupplied charge amount calculator that calculates the amount of the charge output by the feeder but not supplied to the charger; and a layer thickness calculator that calculates the thickness of the charge layer based on the unsupplied charge amount calculated by the unsupplied charge amount calculator and the total charge amount detected by the total charge amount detector.

Abstract: A light-emitting device driver that includes a driver unit that drives a light-emitting device, a compensator that compensates for at least one of the rising and falling responses of the driver unit, a switching unit that switches on and off the compensator, and a control unit that performs on/off control on the switching unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor that rotates, a charging member provided in contact with or in close proximity of the photoreceptor to charge the photoreceptor, a charge amount detecting portion that accumulates current flowing across the photoreceptor to obtain a charge amount of the photoreceptor, while the current is being applied from the charging member until a voltage on a surface of the photoreceptor substantially corresponds to the voltage applied by the charging member, and a controller that calculates a film thickness of the photoreceptor based on the charge amount.