Abstract: A developing device includes a first toner and a second toner that have different hues, an image carrier, a charging unit that charges the image carrier, and a potential controller that controls a potential of the charging unit. A first developing characteristic of the first toner and a second developing characteristic of the second toner have different slopes and intersect each other.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes, a deflection unit configured to deflect first and second light fluxes in a main scanning direction by a same deflection surface, an incident optical system configured to cause the first and second light fluxes to enter the deflection surface, and an imaging optical system configured to converge the first and second light fluxes deflected by the deflection unit to first and second surfaces to be scanned, respectively. The imaging optical system includes first imaging optical element having an output surface including first and second curves that the first and second light fluxes respectively enter, and among light rays included in the first and second light fluxes, the light rays that are reflected by the first and second curves, intersect each other in a sub-scanning cross section perpendicular to the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a formation unit configured to form marks for measurement of a positional deviation on a relatively moving object; an optical sensor having a detection region on the object, and configured to output a light receiving signal depending on existence of the marks within the detection region; a removing unit configured to perform a noise removing process, including a first noise removing process and a second noise removing process which use different removing methods for removing noises included in the light receiving signal so as to generate a noise removing result; and a measurement unit configured to measure a positional deviation amount of image formed by the formation unit, based on the noise removing result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may include: a main body provided with an accommodation chamber partitioned by an inner side surface; a photosensitive unit configured to slid between an accommodated position and a drawn position; a first electrode disposed on a first outer side surface on the photosensitive unit; a second electrode disposed on a second outer side surface on the photosensitive unit to protrude toward the inner side surface beyond the first outer side surface; a third electrode disposed on a first inner side surface on the inner side surface; and a fourth electrode disposed on a second inner side surface on the inner side surface to protrude toward the photosensitive unit beyond the first inner side surface.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes two scanning units each having an input optical system for making, in a sub-scan section, a light beam from a light source be incident at a finite angle on a deflecting surface of a deflector, and an imaging optical system for imaging, on a scan surface, the light beam scanningly deflected by the deflecting surface, the two scanning units being disposed opposed to each other with the deflecting means intervening therebetween, wherein one scanning unit has a first imaging optical element and a second imaging optical element while the other scanning unit has a third imaging optical element and a fourth imaging optical element, wherein the one scanning unit includes a light blocking member for intercepting unwanted light reflected at an optical surface of the fourth imaging optical element, wherein the third imaging optical element is provided at a light path between the fourth imaging optical element and the first light blocking member, and wherein the third imaging optical e

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a plurality of stations, each of which includes an light source, a deflector (polygon scan), a scanning optical element, and a housing. The light source emits a light beam to a plurality of surfaces to be scanned. The deflector deflects light beams emitted from the light source. The scanning optical element scans the surfaces to be scanned with light spots of the optical beams deflected by the deflector. The housing houses therein the light source, the deflector, and the scanning optical element. The scanning optical element is secured to the housing so that directions of scanning-line curves caused by temperature change match between the surfaces to be scanned.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a supply roller 4 supplies a liquid developer to the photo-conductive substance of a photosensitive drum or belt prior to an electrostatic latent image forming process. The supply roller 4 is applied with a voltage dentical in polarity with the charge of toner in the liquid developer, and the liquid developer is uniformly supplied to the surface of a photo-conductive substance to form a liquid developer layer. An exposure unit 6 selectively exposes the photo-conductive substance from the upside of the liquid developer layer in accordance with the image information, to thereby weaken an adhesion of the toner in an exposed area of the liquid developer to the photo-conductive substance. A removing roller 8 is applied with a voltage opposite in polarity to the toner charge to attract and recover the toner weakened in the adhesion by an electric field.

Abstract: A method of forming fixed images including charging a photoconductor; exposing the photoconductor to light; developing an electrostatic latent image so that a toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor to form a visible image; transferring the formed visible image to a recording medium; and fixing the transferred visible image onto the recording medium, such that the toner is a thermally dissociating encapsulated toner and the fixing process is carried out at a temperature of not less than 40.degree. C. and not more than 120.degree. C.