Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image drum for carrying a toner image; a transfer member contacted to the drum to transfer the toner image from the drum onto a transfer member; a cleaning blade provided downstream of the transfer member with respect to a peripheral moving direction of the drum and having a free end portion contacted to the drum, the blade being configured to remove, with rotation of the drum, toner remaining on the drum after transfer of the toner image by the transfer member; and a toner retaining member cooperative with the drum to provide a toner accommodation space toner removed from the drum by the blade. The toner retaining member can retain a part of the toner accommodated in the toner accommodation space and capable of being deformed by the toner accommodated in the accommodation space to discharge the toner from the accommodation space.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image drum for carrying a toner image; a transfer member contacted to the drum to transfer the toner image from the drum onto a transfer member; a cleaning blade provided downstream of the transfer member with respect to a peripheral moving direction of the drum and having a free end portion contacted to the drum, the blade being configured to remove, with rotation of the drum, toner remaining on the drum after transfer of the toner image by the transfer member; and a toner retaining member cooperative with the drum to provide a toner accommodation space toner removed from the drum by the blade. The toner retaining member can retain a part of the toner accommodated in the toner accommodation space and capable of being deformed by the toner accommodated in the accommodation space to discharge the toner from the accommodation space.

Abstract: As a typical configuration of a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus according to the invention, the cleaning device includes a cleaning blade which cleans an image bearing member, a plurality of compression coil springs which apply a force from the cleaning blade to the image bearing member, and a plurality of bosses provided to fix the plurality of compression coil springs to a frame. The particular boss that attaches to one of the compression coil springs is selectable from the plurality of bosses, which are disposed at different positions. As a result, the abutting pressure of the cleaning blade to the image bearing member is adjustable by changing the boss to which a particular compression spring is attached.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a first temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of an exposure device, a second temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of a photosensitive member, a color registration pattern detection unit configured to detect a color registration pattern formed on a transfer member, an actual-measurement-based color registration adjustment value calculation unit configured to calculate an actual-measurement-based color registration adjustment value from a result of the detection of the color registration pattern detection unit, and a prediction-based color registration adjustment value calculation unit configured to calculate a prediction-based color registration adjustment value from the temperature of the exposure device detected by the first temperature detection unit and the temperature of the photosensitive member detected by the second temperature detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable image bearing member; a toner image forming portion; a transfer member; a cleaning blade, provided downstream of the transfer member and upstream of the toner image forming portion with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member; a discharging member, provided downstream of the cleaning blade and upstream of the toner image forming portion with respect to the rotational direction; and a thin plate-like member provided downstream of the discharging member and upstream of the toner image forming portion with respect to the rotational direction. An end of the thin plate-like member is contacted to a surface of the image bearing member toward an upstream side with respect to the rotational direction.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of performing stable charging and thus stable image formation over a long term by changing a charge control method based on various environments. An engine control section serves as a first applied voltage determining unit, obtains a relationship between an applied voltage and a discharge current amount to a charging roller, and determines a voltage value of an applied voltage corresponding to a predetermined discharge current amount. The engine control section serves as a second applied voltage determining unit and determines a voltage value of a voltage to be applied to the charging roller based on the environment information detected by the environmental sensor. The engine control section selects, as the voltage to be applied to the charging roller, any one of the voltage values determined by the first and the second applied voltage determining units based on the environment information.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a first temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of an exposure device, a second temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of a photosensitive member, a color registration pattern detection unit configured to detect a color registration pattern formed on a transfer member, an actual-measurement-based color registration adjustment value calculation unit configured to calculate an actual-measurement-based color registration adjustment value from a result of the detection of the color registration pattern detection unit, and a prediction-based color registration adjustment value calculation unit configured to calculate a prediction-based color registration adjustment value from the temperature of the exposure device detected by the first temperature detection unit and the temperature of the photosensitive member detected by the second temperature detection unit.

Abstract: A potential sensor for detecting a surface potential of an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes an insulative film; a thin film electrode layer formed on the film; a curved portion formed by folding back the film so that the thin film electrode layer is inwardly located, the curved potion functioning as a detecting portion for detecting the surface potential of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and an electroconductive shielding portion provided so as to cover an outer surface of the film except for at least an area in which the curved portion is contactable to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the shielding portion being electrically grounded.

Abstract: A potential sensor for detecting a surface potential of an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes an insulative film; a thin film electrode layer formed on the film; a curved portion formed by folding back the film so that the thin film electrode layer is inwardly located, the curved portion functioning as a detecting portion for detecting the surface potential of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and an electroconductive shielding portion provided so as to cover an outer surface of the film except for at least an area in which the curved portion is contactable to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the shielding portion being electrically grounded.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of performing stable charging and thus stable image formation over a long term by changing a charge control method based on various environments. An engine control section serves as a first applied voltage determining unit, obtains a relationship between an applied voltage and a discharge current amount to a charging roller, and determines a voltage value of an applied voltage corresponding to a predetermined discharge current amount. The engine control section serves as a second applied voltage determining unit and determines a voltage value of a voltage to be applied to the charging roller based on the environment information detected by the environmental sensor. The engine control section selects, as the voltage to be applied to the charging roller, any one of the voltage values determined by the first and the second applied voltage determining units based oh the environment information.

Abstract: A potential sensor for detecting a surface potential of an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes an insulative film; a thin film electrode layer formed on the film; a curved portion formed by folding back the film so that the thin film electrode layer is inwardly located, the curved potion functioning as a detecting portion for detecting the surface potential of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and an electroconductive shielding portion provided so as to cover an outer surface of the film except for at least an area in which the curved portion is contactable to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the shielding portion being electrically grounded.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging roller for electrically charging a photosensitive member. The charging roller alternately has pits and projections along a circumferential direction thereof. The projections project in an inclined direction in which the projections are inclined with respect to a radial direction of the charging roller. The charging device further includes a roller rotating mechanism for rotating the charging roller to provide a peripheral movement thereof in a sense from the radial direction toward the inclined direction, a brush for cleaning the charging roller, and a brush rotating mechanism for rotating the brush to provide a peripheral movement thereof counterdirectionally with the inclined direction at a position in which the brush and the charging roller contact each other.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus in which the contact point portion between the metal plate and rubber blade of a cleaning blade is made into a surface to thereby alleviate the concentration of stress in that portion and prevent the occurrence of the squat of the cleaning blade, and high cleaning performance can be maintained for a long period. In the cleaning apparatus provided with a cleaning blade 22 including a rubber blade 3d adhesively secured to or molded integrally with a metal plate 31, an elastic layer 3c is provided on the distal end portion of the metal plate 31 of the cleaning blade, and the elastic layer 3c supports a surface opposite to that surface of the cleaning blade which contacts with a drum, together with the metal plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning apparatus in which the contact point portion between the metal plate and rubber blade of a cleaning blade is made into a surface to thereby alleviate the concentration of stress in that portion and prevent the occurrence of the squat of the cleaning blade, and high cleaning performance can be maintained for a long period. In the cleaning apparatus provided with a cleaning blade 22 comprising a rubber blade 3d adhesively secured to or molded integrally with a metal plate 31, an elastic layer 3c is provided on the distal end portion of the metal plate 31 of the cleaning blade, and the elastic layer 3c supports a surface opposite to that surface of the cleaning blade which contacts with a drum, together with the metal plate.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide transfer paper for electrophotography which is excellent in paper-feed conveyability and image quality. The invention provides transfer paper for electrophotography having coated layers on both sides of a substrate material, comprising a first coated layer, containing a print seam, provided on at least one side thereof and a second coated layer provided on said first coated layer and having a print seam different from that of the first coated layer; wherein the total weight of the transfer paper for electrophotography is within a range from 60 to 130 g/m2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transfer picture transferring member which prevents occurrence of simultaneous feed of two or more sheets, inhibits the amount of curling of paper in various environments, and prevents occurrence of curling even when taking out a sheet of paper from the package. The transfer picture transferring member having a transferring layer on a surface of the substrate of the invention is characterized by a water content within a range of from 4 to 6%.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transfer picture transferring member which prevents occurrence of simultaneous feed of two or more sheets, inhibits the amount of curling of paper in various environments, and prevents occurrence of curling even when taking out a sheet of paper from the package. The transfer picture transferring member having a transferring layer on a surface of the substrate of the invention is characterized by a water content within a range of from 4 to 6%.

Abstract: An image transfer material on which an image is printed with ink and then onto which a toner image is transferred by an image forming apparatus, wherein a toner image is transferred onto the transfer material which is fed in a machine direction of a base paper thereof; wherein a water elongation MD of the base paper in the machine direction and a water elongation CD thereof in a direction perpendicular to the machine direction satisfy:

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide transfer paper for electrophotography which is excellent in paper-feed conveyability and image quality. The invention provides transfer paper for electrophotography having coated layers on both sides of a substrate material, comprising a first coated layer, containing a print seam, provided on at least one side thereof and a second coated layer provided on said first coated layer and having a print seam different from that of the first coated layer; wherein the total weight of the transfer paper for electrophotography is within a range from 60 to 130 g/m2.

Abstract: An image-forming method and an image-forming transparent film are provided which can form a high-grade transparent recorded image such that any unwanted opaque matter other than images formed is not present on the transparent film on which the images have been formed. The transparent film is provided on its surface with an opaque sensing mark layer capable of turning transparent upon heating with a fixing roller and an opaque mark layer capable of turning transparent upon that heating. The opaque mark layer is capable of more readily turning transparent upon heating than the opaque sensing mark layer and is formed on the side upstream in the film transport direction from the position coming after substantially one rotation of the fixing roller, measured from an end of the transparent film in its transport direction, and the opaque sensing mark layer is formed on the downstream side of the opaque mark layer.