Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer device, a voltage applicator, a current sensor, and a discharge detector. The transfer device transfers a toner image from one surface to another by developing an electrical field across a transfer gap when provided with a transfer bias. The voltage applicator applies a stepped test voltage to the transfer device. The current sensor senses a current flowing to the transfer device during application of the test voltage the discharge detector detects an electrical discharge occurring in the transfer gap based on a rate of increase of the sensed current.

Abstract: A sheet bonding machine bonds together a first sheet and a second sheet including an adhesion layer formed on one side thereof, covered with a release paper, includes a transport unit to transport the first sheet unidirectionally, a feeder to feed the second sheet obliquely toward the first sheet, a separation unit, a reel, an adhesion point, and a tensioner. The release paper is removed from the second sheet by the separation unit located upstream from the contact portion, and reeled by the reel. The second sheet adheres to the first sheet via the adhesion layer 91b at the adhesion point located downstream from the separation unit. The tensioner is located upstream from the separation unit and keeps the second sheet taut.

Abstract: A sheet cutter cuts an adhesion sheet and includes a pair of blades including a first blade including a blade edge and a second blade opposing the first blade and including a blade edge. The pair of blades cuts a border of the adhesion sheet. The adhesion sheet is formed by adhering a first sheet, at least a part of which is transparent and bears a mirror image, to a non-transparent second sheet including an adhesive layer, to oppose the mirror image on the first sheet against the adhesive layer of the second sheet.

Abstract: A sheet laminator includes a bonding unit and a restricting unit. The bonding unit bonds a first sheet to a second sheet that includes an adhesive layer. The restricting unit restricts movement of any one of the first sheet and the second sheet thereby preventing bonding between the first sheet and the second sheet before the first sheet and the second sheet reach the bonding unit.

Abstract: A control unit controls a device that executes an image forming process, compares changes of each toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image when a developing-bias control condition is changed, with respect to a toner adhesion amount in an image-density-detection pattern image in a normal status, performs a malfunction-occurrence prediction process according to the degree of each change of the densities, and displays the result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier configured to carry an image on a surface thereof, a cleaning unit including a cleaning blade and configured to remove residual toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier with the cleaning blade, and an application unit including a brush roller having a modified cross-section fiber and configured to use the brush roller to scrape molded lubricant into scraped lubricant and apply the scraped lubricant to the image carrier. A process cartridge is provided to the image forming apparatus and integrally includes the image carrier, the cleaning unit, the application unit, and at least one of a charging unit and a developing unit in a single unit.