Abstract: A transfer apparatus comprises a toner image supporting body and a corona transfer means, which are oppositely disposed, and a vibrating unit for exerting vibration force to the rear face of a toner supporting body, disposed opposite to the corona transfer means, wherein the vibrating unit has a cantilever structure for holding an end of a piezoelectric bimorph element in which a pair of piezoelectric bodies each having an electrode, are bonded to both sides of a conductive elastic member (a shim member). A protrusion portion is provided on the other end of the piezoelectric bimorph element.

Abstract: A velocity correction device of an image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a high-quality image. The image forming apparatus includes a rotor, a motor, a motor control unit, and a velocity command memory. The velocity correction device includes a velocity measuring unit, an arithmetic unit, and an interface unit. The velocity correction device is attached to the image forming apparatus. The velocity measuring unit measures the rotational velocity of the rotor when the motor is rotating at a reference rotational velocity which is a fixed velocity. The arithmetic unit compares the measured velocity with a no-velocity-fluctuation velocity of the rotor calculated by the reference rotational velocity of the motor, extracts a velocity fluctuation component of the rotor, and generates the velocity command data to cancel the extracted velocity fluctuation component. The generated velocity command data are transmitted to the velocity command memory through the interface unit, and stored therein.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing part having a heater disposed therein, a second fixing part, disposed to oppose to the first fixing part, for pinching a recording medium to form a first nip portion, a pair of transfer rollers, disposed at a downstream side of the recording medium, for forming a second nip portion, a guide for biasing the recording medium discharged from the transfer rollers towards the first fixing part side from one of the transfers rollers, and means part for biasing the guide towards the recording medium side.

Abstract: A belt-conveyor device includes a detecting unit that detects a belt position in a width direction of the endless belt for a plurality of times within more than a cycle of the endless belt, the width direction being a direction orthogonal to direction of travel of the endless belt; an average calculating unit that calculates an average belt position from the belt positions detected by the detecting unit; a storing unit that stores therein a plural sets of correction values and belt positions; and a meander correcting unit that corrects meander of the endless belt based on a correction value that corresponds with the average belt position in the storing unit.

Abstract: In a fixing apparatus including heating member having an elastic layer and a heat source and pressing member having an endless shape member and a pressing member for transporting a record medium in a cut sheet shape while being adhered with an unfixed toner image to pass a nip portion formed by the endless shape member and the heating member and fixing the unfixed toner image on the record medium, the fixing apparatus is constructed by a constitution in which a space between the toner image on the record medium and a surface of the heating member is widened immediately after the record medium is projected from an outlet of the nip portion.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus is disclosed. The image formation apparatus includes a fixing unit whose heater temperature is controlled to be in a non-offsetting range so that no offset is produced, the non-offsetting range being defined for each different paper thickness. Nip time remains constant even when the thickness of the paper to be printed on next is changed. Printing is suspended until the heater temperature, approaching the non-offsetting range, reaches an inconspicuous offset range on either side of the non-offsetting range, inconspicuous offset being produced if printing is performed in the inconspicuous offset range.

Abstract: An electro-photographic apparatus for conducting printing includes a fixing member fixing an unfixed toner image on a surface of a recording medium onto the recording medium. The fixing member includes a heating roller and a pressurizing member, and a mounting member on which the pressurizing member is mounted. The pressurizing member is supported by the mounting member in a substantially center part in a longitudinal direction of the pressurizing member.

Abstract: To accomplish high-speed fixing which requires high-precision temperature control, or fixing of high-quality color images on various kinds of paper without increasing the size and production cost of the temperature detecting means and contaminating the back sides of paper by toner that comes off from the temperature detecting element, an image for ming device is equipped with a fixing device comprising a heating roller, a pressing belt which forcibly contacts the heating roller, and a temperature detecting means which touches the surface of the heating roller to sense the surface temperature of the heating roller, wherein a cleaning means to clean the belt surface is provided on a place which is corresponding to a place at which the contact-type thermistor touches the heating roller.

Abstract: A fixing device comprising a first fixing means having a heating means disposed therein, a second fixing means, disposed to oppose to the first fixing means, for pinching a recording medium to form a first nip portion, a pair of transfer rollers, disposed at a downstream side of the recording medium, for forming a second nip portion, a guide for biasing the recording medium discharged from the transfer rollers towards the first fixing means side from one of the transfers, and means for biasing the guide towards the recording medium side.

Abstract: An electronic color photography apparatus includes a photosensitive body and a plurality of detachable developing devices. A power for moving the developing devices close to the photosensitive body is created by a retracting force of a slanted teeth gear which is driven at one side of a body of the electronic color photography apparatus.

Abstract: An electro-photographic apparatus for conducting printing includes a fixing member fixing an unfixed toner image on a surface of a recording medium onto the recording medium. The fixing member includes a heating roller and a pressurizing member, and a mounting member on which the pressurizing member is mounted. The pressurizing member is supported by the mounting member in a substantially center part in a longitudinal direction of the pressurizing member.

Abstract: A fixing unit that is provided in an image forming device and fixes a toner image transferred to paper is constructed of two belts, belt guides each of which guides the inner periphery of each of the belts, a heating member arranged in one of the belts or heating members arranged in both of the belts, a drive roller for driving the inner periphery of the belt, wherein the belts pinch paper on both surfaces thereof by the belt guides and carry the paper. This construction can realize a fixing unit reduced in size and capable of printing images at high speeds and shortening a rise time that elapses until the fixing unit reaches a fixable temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive belt carried by a driver device, for forming a toner image thereon; an internal transcription belt for transcribing the toner image; and a transcription portion for transcribing the toner image, which is transcribed on the internal transcription belt, onto a recording medium. A transcription side roller is suspended with the internal transcription belt thereon, and disposed on a side of a photosensitive belt side roller. Detectors detect a first cycle of the internal transcription belt, and a second cycle, which starts measurement delaying by ½ cycle of the photosensitive belt side roller from the first cycle measurement start. A controller conducts speed compensation of the photosensitive belt by referring to the first cycle and the second cycle, wherein the internal transcription belt is in contact with the photosensitive belt, so that it is carried following thereafter.

Abstract: A paper feeder is capable of minimizing abnormal noise produced at a separation pad during paper feed, without reducing the paper feed capability, for use in an image forming apparatus using the same. Buffers are mounted on the separation pad. This arrangement ensures that, when a stick-slip condition occurs between the paper and separation pad during paper feed, and the separation pad is vibrated by the paper, the buffer vibrates so as to dissipate the vibration energy of the separation pad, with the result that the vibration of the separation pad is minimized, thereby to reduce any abnormal noise.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, comprising: a photosensitive belt being carried by a driver device, for forming a toner image thereon; an internal transcription belt for transcribing the toner image thereon, which is formed on said photosensitive belt; and a transcription portion for transcribing the toner image, which is transcribed on said internal transcription belt, onto a recording medium, further comprising: a transcription side roller, being suspended with said internal transcription belt thereon, and disposed on a side of a photosensitive belt side roller, which is disposed on a side of said photosensitive belt, and a transcription side roller, which is disposed on a side of said transcription side; means for detecting a first cycle of said internal transcription belt; and means for detecting a second cycle, which starts measurement delaying by ½ cycle of said photosensitive belt side roller from the first cycle measurement start; a controller means for conducting speed compensation of said photose

Abstract: A picture image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor belt driven by a drive device, a plurality of developing devices for forming toner picture images on the photoreceptor belt, an intermediate transfer device, to a surface of which toner picture images on the photoreceptor belt are overlappingly transferred plural times when a picture image is to be formed on a single page, and a transfer roller for pushing a sheet against the intermediate transfer device in order to transfer toner picture images to the sheet. The intermediate transfer device is an intermediate transfer belt contacted by the photoreceptor belt to be driven thereby. A photoreceptor-side roller enables contact of the intermediate transfer belt and the photoreceptor belt, and the intermediate transfer belt is trained around the photoreceptor-side roller and a transfer-side roller for pushing the sheet against the transfer roller. A diameter d2 of the transfer-side roller is smaller than a diameter d1 of the photoreceptor-side roller.

Abstract: A picture image forming apparatus comprising a photoreceptor belt driven by a drive device, a plurality of developing devices for forming toner picture images on the photoreceptor belt, an intermediate transfer device, to a surface of which toner picture images on the photoreceptor belt are overlappingly transferred plural times when a picture image is to be formed on a single page, and a transfer roller for pushing a sheet against the intermediate transfer device in order to transfer toner picture images to the sheet, and wherein the intermediate transfer device is an intermediate transfer belt contacted by the photoreceptor belt to be driven thereby, and the intermediate transfer belt is trained around a photoreceptor-side roller and a transfer-side roller for pushing the sheet against the transfer roller, and wherein a diameter d2 of the transfer-side roller is smaller than a diameter d1 of the photoreceptor-side roller.

Abstract: An overlap detection apparatus having a conveyance path for conveying letters including a letter release section where the letters are not held, a bending section formed in the letter release section, and a butt into which the forward end of the letters released from the conveyance path in the bending section is brought into contact. A detector is provided for detecting the forward end of a letter on the butt and an overlap judging arrangement for judging an overlap of letters based on the result of detection by the detector. The detector includes a light source for projecting light on the surface of a letter and a line sensor having a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a line, wherein the line sensor detects a shadow of the forward end of the letters cast by the light source.

Abstract: A paper sorting apparatus includes first to fourth gap measuring units to measure gaps between sheets of paper. Using the gaps between the sheets varying between the respective gap measuring units, target gap correction values are stored for respective sort shelves. In accordance with gaps between sheets changed between the first and second gap measuring units, there are predicted gap variations possibly taking place by when the sheets reach the associated sort shelves. Depending on the predicted gap variations, a gap adjuster is controlled to set the gaps to appropriate values at a point where the pertinent sheets reach the associated sort shelves.

Abstract: An overlapped mail detection apparatus and method are disclosed. Since the postcard is shorter than the letter, the change in length is not sometimes detected even when the postcard is displaced. In the case where the exterior of the letter is deformed outward and an overlap is detected from the rise of the tail end of the letter after passing a guide, a thin letter or the like low in rigidity is hard to detect due to the slow rise after deformation in the guide. In view of this, a separator has a bent conveyance path for deforming the exterior of the letter outward. The conveyance surfaces constituting the inner and outer sides of the bent portion of the separator are spaced appropriately from each other. A detector detects the state of the letter surface in the neighborhood of the outer conveyance surface with which the forward end of the letter first comes into contact. An overlap of letters is judged from the result of detection by the detector.