Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a developer container containing a developer and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer and adapted to switch an AC voltage to be applied to the developer carrying member. The apparatus includes a detecting member for detecting the amount of developer in the developer container and a processing portion for determining the amount of developer in the developer container according to the value output by the detecting member when the AC voltage is applied to the developer carrying member. The processing portion is adapted to determine the amount of developer by executing a process that corresponds to the operation of switching the AC voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a developer container containing a developer and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer and adapted to switch an AC voltage to be applied to the developer carrying member, the apparatus comprising a detecting member for detecting the amount of developer in the developer container and a processing portion for determining the amount of developer in the developer container according to the value output by the detecting member when the AC voltage is applied to the developer carrying member, the processing portion being adapted to determine the amount of developer by executing a process that corresponds to the operation of switching the AC voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a developer container containing a developer and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer and adapted to switch an AC voltage to be applied to the developer carrying member. The apparatus includes a detecting member for detecting the amount of developer in the developer container and a processing portion for determining the amount of developer in the developer container according to the value output by the detecting member when the AC voltage is applied to the developer carrying member. The processing portion is adapted to determine the amount of developer by executing a process that corresponds to the operation of switching the AC voltage.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus group including a plurality of kinds of image forming apparatuses having different process speeds, and a cartridge which can be commonly used in a plurality of kinds of image forming apparatuses, when there is provided a cartridge which can be detachably mountable to both a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus having different process speeds, n a control operation is carried out such that the difference between the peak-to-peak A.C. voltages in first and second first image forming apparatus main bodies varies with an increase in amount of used toners in the cartridge. Even when use of the cartridge is changed between the image forming apparatuses in the middle of being used, the image density level of an output image can be maintained nearly constant.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a developer container containing a developer and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer and adapted to switch an AC voltage to be applied to the developer carrying member, the apparatus comprising a detecting member for detecting the amount of developer in the developer container and a processing portion for determining the amount of developer in the developer container according to the value output by the detecting member when the AC voltage is applied to the developer carrying member, the processing portion being adapted to determine the amount of developer by executing a process that corresponds to the operation of switching the AC voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, the process cartridge including an image bearing member, a charging member for electrically charging the image bearing member, and a memory medium having a memory area for storing information relating to a charging current for a non-image-formation period; the apparatus including a control unit for switching a voltage to be applied to the charging member in accordance with the information stored in the memory medium.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus group including a plurality of kinds of image forming apparatuses different in their process speeds, and a cartridge which can be commonly used in a plurality of kinds of image forming apparatuses, when there is provided a cartridge which can be detachably mountable to both a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus different in their process speeds from the first image forming apparatus, an control operation is carried out such that a difference between a peak-to-peak voltage of an A.C. voltage in a first image forming apparatus main body and a peak-to-peak voltage of an A.C. voltage in a second image forming apparatus main body varies with an increase in amount of used toners in the cartridge. Even when use of the cartridge is changed between the image forming apparatuses in the middle of being used, an image density level of an output image can be maintained nearly constant.

Abstract: A developing device usable with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing member for supplying a developer to an electrophotographic photosensitive member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a first electrode, and a second electrode. An electrical signal is generated in accordance with an electrostatic capacity between the first electrode and second electrode when the first electrode or the second electrode is supplied with a voltage from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and is measured by the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to detect a remaining amount of the developer.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning member for cleaning off toner from an image bearing member, a support member for supporting the cleaning member, and a receiving portion for receiving the toner cleaned off by the cleaning member, the receiving portion having a cleaning frame, and a connecting portion for connecting both end surfaces of the cleaning frame in a longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, in which the support member is provided with a bent portion bent on a deeper side of the cleaning frame, and the connecting portion is below an upper portion of the receiving portion and above a lower surface of the bent portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable,

Abstract: A cartridge includes a developing apparatus equipped with a developer containing portion containing a developer, a residual developer amount detecting device for detecting a residual developer amount in the developer containing portion, and a storage device capable of storing the latest residual developer amount information. An image forming apparatus includes a continuous rest time counter configured to count a continuous rest time of the image forming apparatus, and a controller which is configured to prohibit updating of the residual developer amount information to the storage device for a predetermined period after the end of the continuous rest time of the image forming apparatus when the continuous rest time counter indicates a time not shorter than a predetermined time. This structure provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming system in which no deterioration in detection accuracy occurs even if an unstable toner state occurs due to a long printing rest time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an electrifying device for electrifying the image bearing member, and a transferring member provided with a contact portion contacting with the image bearing member. The transferring member causes the contact portion to make a transferring material pass by to thereby transfer a toner image formed on the image bearing member to the transferring material. A length of the transferring member in the lengthwise direction of the image bearing member is shorter than a length of an electrification area in which the electrifying device electrifies the image bearing member. A cleaning blade contact with the image bearing member to remove residual toner from the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus further includes a lubricant imparting device for imparting a lubricant to surface areas of the image bearing member in the lengthwise direction, which are outside the transferring member and correspond to the end portions of the cleaning blade.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus including a cleaning member for cleaning off toner from an image bearing member, a support member for supporting the cleaning member, and a receiving portion for receiving the toner cleaned off by the cleaning member, the receiving portion having a cleaning frame, and a connecting portion for connecting both end surfaces of the cleaning frame in a longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, in which the support member is provided with a bent portion bent on a deeper side of the cleaning frame, and the connecting portion is below an upper portion of the receiving portion and above a lower surface of the bent portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which has a developer container for containing developer, the container being detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, developer amount detecting device for detecting an amount of the developer contained in the developer container, and determining device for determining the amount of the developer in accordance with a maximum value of a detected amount of the developer amount detecting device.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a developing apparatus equipped with a developer containing portion containing a developer, a residual developer amount detecting device for detecting a residual developer amount in the developer containing portion, and a storage device capable of storing latest residual developer amount information. An image forming apparatus includes a continuous rest time counter for counting a continuous rest time of a driving system of the image forming apparatus, and a control device which prohibits updating of the residual developer amount information to the storage device for a predetermined interval when the continuous rest time counter indicates a time not shorter than a predetermined time. Provided are an image forming apparatus and an image forming system in which no deterioration in detection accuracy is involved even if an unstable toner state occurs due to a long printing rest time.

Abstract: A cleaning device for removing toner remaining on an image carrier carrying a toner image after toner on the image carrier has been transferred to another material, the cleaning device including: a conductive brush roller to which a bias voltage of a polarity that is the same as the proper polarity of toner for use in development is applied in order to remove that portion of the toner remaining on the image carrier after the image transfer process whose polarity has become opposite to the proper polarity of toner for use in development; a roller electrode which comes into contact with the bush roller and to which a bias that is of a polarity opposite to that of the brush roller is applied to electrostatically attract the toner adhering to the conductive brush; and scraping device for scraping off the toner adhering to this roller electrode, wherein that portion of the toner remaining on the image carrier after the image transfer process whose polarity has become opposite to the proper polarity of toner is rem

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device being usable with a main assembly of an electrophotograhic image forming apparatus, the developing device includes a developing member for supplying a developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a first electrode provided opposed to developing member; a second electrode disposed such that at least a lower end thereof takes a position lower than the first electrode when the developing device is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; wherein an electric signal is generated in accordance with an electrostatic capacity between the first electrode and second electrode when the first electrode or second electrode is supplied with a voltage from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member, an electrifying device for electrifying the image bearing member, a transferring member provided with a contact portion contacting with the image bearing member, the transferring member causing the contact portion to make a transferring material pass it to thereby transfer a toner image formed on the image bearing member to the transferring material, the length of the transferring member in the lengthwise direction of the image bearing member being shorter than an electrification area in which the electrifying device electrifies the image bearing member, a cleaning blade contacting with the image bearing member to thereby remove any residual toner on the image bearing member, and lubricant imparting means for imparting a lubricant to at least the areas of the image bearing member in the lengthwise direction which are outside the transferring member and correspond to the end portions of the cleaning blade.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive body for forming electrostatic latent images thereon; a charging device structured with an electrode member in contact with the photosensitive body for forming the latent images on the photosensitive body; a cleaning device having a cleaning blade to rub and remove toner from the surface of the photosensitive body by enabling the leading edge thereof to abut thereupon in a counter to the moving direction of the photosensitive body; a developing device for developing with toner the latent images formed on the photosensitive body; and a surface roughing device arranged within a cleaning area to which the cleaning blade to abuts, outside the developing area of the developing means to carry out development, and further, arranged on the downstream side of the charging device observed in the moving direction of the photosensitive body, but on the upstream side of the cleaning blade to abut upon the photosensitive body for

Abstract: A method is disclosed for attaching a sheet for receiving toner removed from an image bearing member to a frame. The method includes the steps of adhering the sheet to the frame, using an adhesive, while bending the frame and releasing the frame after the sheet is adhered to the frame. A toner-guiding sheet for guiding toner removed from an image bearing member to a toner-receiving unit is also disclosed. The sheet is widened near a central portion in a longitudinal direction so that the sheet edge will conform to the bent shape of an attachment surface. A cleaning device is also disclosed. The cleaning device may include a frame and a sheet attached to the frame by an adhesive in a condition that a tension force is applied to the sheet.