Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an image bearing member to bear a latent electrostatic image, a charging device to charge a surface of the image bearing member, an irradiating device to irradiate the surface of the image bearing member to form the latent electrostatic image thereon, a developing device to develop the latent electrostatic image, an optional cleaning unit to clean the surface of the image bearing member, a transfer device to transfer the developed image to an opaque medium, an optional cleaning device to clean a surface of the transfer device, a fixing device to fix the transferred image on the opaque medium, and an attachment device to attach the fixed image to a transparent medium after the opaque medium is overlaid with the transparent medium, and recording media for use in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium conveyed from a sheet feeding unit to obtain an image with photographic quality, at least a part of the recording medium has a transparent portion. When an image obtained by reversing an original image is transferred onto the transparent part, sheet-delivery rollers are operable in a direction in which a pressure onto the recording medium is reduced immediately after fixing of the image.

Abstract: A pair of registration rollers align a leading edge of a recording medium having a transparent section and a non-transparent section. A boundary sensor detects a boundary between the transparent section and the non-transparent section. The boundary sensor is provided on a downstream side of a direction of conveying the recording medium by the registration rollers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an optical sensor configured to optically detect a density of a reference pattern image, a toner density sensor configured to detect a density of toner i.n a developing unit, a storing unit configured to store an image area coverage of an output image, a determining unit configured to determine whether a state of toner accommodated in a toner supplying unit is an almost empty state and an empty state or neither based on detection results obtained by the sensors, a controlling unit configured to continuously perform a toner state check when the image area coverage of the output image is greater than a predetermined image area coverage value and the density of the reference pattern image is greater than a predetermined density level after the determination of the state of toner is the almost empty state or the empty state or neither.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises a photoconductor, a latent electrostatic image forming unit for forming a latent electrostatic image on the photoconductor, a developing unit for developing the latent electrostatic image using a developer comprising a toner to form a visible image, a transfer unit for transferring the visible image to a recording medium, a cleaning unit for removing the developer remained on the photoconductor surface and a developer amount detection unit for detecting developer amount adhering to the photoconductor surface by a reflecting photosensor, wherein the developer stirring time per copy when one copy is made from an original, is 2 to 6 times the developer stirring time per copy when two or more copies are made from the original, wherein the toner comprises at least a binder resin and a wax, and the dynamic frictional coefficient of the toner is 0.15 to 0.45.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a developing unit, an image density detector, a toner concentration detector, a toner concentration controller, and an output adjustment unit. The image carrying member forms a reference latent image pattern. The developing unit develops the reference latent image pattern as a reference image pattern with a two-component developer. The image density detector detects an image density of the reference image pattern. The toner concentration detector detects a toner concentration in the two-component developer. The toner concentration controller controls the toner concentration based on the image density detected by the image density detector. The output adjustment unit adjusts a toner concentration sensing level of the toner concentration detector with a sensor control voltage. The toner concentration is controlled by a target voltage with reference to the image density. The toner concentration range is changed by changing the sensor control voltage.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises a photoconductor, a latent electrostatic image forming unit for forming a latent electrostatic image on the photoconductor, a developing unit for developing the latent electrostatic image using a developer comprising a toner to form a visible image, a transfer unit for transferring the visible image to a recording medium, a cleaning unit for removing the developer remained on the photoconductor surface and a developer amount detection unit for detecting developer amount adhering to the photoconductor surface by a reflecting photosensor, wherein the developer stirring time per copy when one copy is made from an original, is 2 to 6 times the developer stirring time per copy when two or more copies are made from the original, wherein the toner comprises at least a binder resin and a wax, and the dynamic frictional coefficient of the toner is 0.15 to 0.45.

Abstract: A developing device for feeding a developer stored therein to an image carrier of the present invention includes a sleeve facing the image carrier for causing the developer deposited thereon to contact a latent image formed on the image carrier. A regulating member faces the sleeve for regulating the thickness of the developer that forms a layer on the sleeve. A guide member has a guide surface for guiding the developer regulated by the regulating member toward the surface of the image carrier. The guide surface has a conductive surface facing the sleeve. The developing device protects the image carrier from defective images ascribable to impurities, which include deteriorated toner and paper dust, without resorting to a filter mechanism or a bias for collection.

Abstract: A developing device for feeding a developer stored therein to an image carrier of the present invention includes a sleeve facing the image carrier for causing the developer deposited thereon to contact a latent image formed on the image carrier. A regulating member faces the sleeve for regulating the thickness of the developer that forms a layer on the sleeve. A guide member has a guide surface for guiding the developer regulated by the regulating member toward the surface of the image carrier. The guide surface has a conductive surface facing the sleeve. The developing device protects the image carrier from defective images ascribable to impurities, which include deteriorated toner and paper dust, without resorting to a filter mechanism or a bias for collection.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing member including an internal magnetic field generating device and configured such that a surface thereof moves to carry and convey a developer including toner and carrier. A developer regulating member regulates a quantity of the developer carried and conveyed by the developer bearing member toward a developing area, and a developer accommodating unit accommodates the developer regulated to be conveyed toward the developing area by the developer regulating member. A toner accommodating unit includes a toner supplying opening opposing a surface of the developer bearing surface of the developer bearing member at a position adjacent to and upstream of the developer accommodating unit in a developer conveying direction.