Abstract: In an image forming method, an execution condition of forcible toner consumption is obtained based on an environmental value at a time of final image formation and a present environmental value, the forcible toner consumption is executed under the execution condition, and image formation is performed after calibration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a development apparatus that includes: a developer storing part; a developer supply mechanism; and a surplus developer removing section; wherein the developer supply mechanism includes: a toner storing part; a carrier storing part; a developer conveying path and a conveying mechanism, both are arranged between the toner storing part and the developer storing part, and between the carrier storing part and the developer storing part; wherein the developer conveying path includes a toner ejection outlet through which a toner stored in the toner storing part is ejected and a carrier ejection outlet through which a carrier stored in the carrier storing part is ejected, and a supplying developer ejection outlet through which a supplying developer is ejected to the developer storing part; and wherein the conveying mechanism is adapted to convey the toner and the carrier while stirring them.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum capable of bearing an electrostatic image, a development device having a developing sleeve capable of bearing a developer and a developer container capable of storing a magnetic toner, and a CPU controlling operation to discharge a developer having polarity opposite to a normally charged polarity to the photosensitive drum by enlarging a restoration electric field to force the developer having a normally charged polarity from the photosensitive drum to the development sleeve during image forming is not performed compared to that during normal image forming is performed, based on a weighted value (p×K) on an edge portion pixel number p of an edge portion of an output image.

Abstract: This is a thumper assembly that is positioned in a developer station of a xerographic marking system. A waste container connected to a drop tube collects waste developer from this station. A magnet prevents magnetic developer from moving through the tube when the container is removed. Once a new container is installed, the magnet is moved away from the tube thereby allowing magnetic developer lodged therein to again move through the tube. A thumper is moved striking the tube to further dislodge developer and allow this developer to move through the tube into the waste container.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer container to store a developer, a conveyance member to convey the developer, and a discharge port to discharge the developer. The discharge port is at a position that is on one end side from a central portion of the conveyance member with respect to an axial direction of the conveyance member. A first region of the conveyance member may include a portion facing the discharge port that has a conveyance capacity that is lower than a conveyance capacity of a second region or has a conveyance capacity that is zero. The conveyance member includes a positioning unit that is provided on the one end side thereof in the axial direction to position the conveyance member in the axial direction by abutting on the developer container, and an urging unit to urge the positioning unit with respect to the developer container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing body for supplying developer to a surface of the image bearing body, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by a latent image forming unit; a driving unit for rotating the developer bearing body; a speed control unit for determining a rotation speed of the developer bearing body; a drive control unit for controlling the driving unit so that the developer bearing body rotates at the determined rotation speed; and a control unit for determining the amount of developer to be disposed of on the basis of the determined rotation speed and controlling disposal of the determined amount of developer on the surface of the developer bearing body.

Abstract: The waste toner flown into a waste toner box by way of a plurality of collection ports is leveled by means of a paddle. The waste toner collected in the waste toner box is supplied to a full condition sensing section arranged at a higher position so as to be piled up by means of an auxiliary paddle 42. A photodetector detects the waste toner that is accumulated higher at the position of the full condition sensing section than at the other area of the waste toner box to detect a full condition of the waste toner box.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, in which an image forming method is performed, includes an image carrier, an optical writing unit, a developing unit developing a toner image including an output image and a forcible toner consumption image, a transfer unit including an endless moving member to transfer the toner image onto the endless moving member directly or a recording medium carried on the endless moving member, a first remover to remove residual toner from the image carrier after transfer, a toner recycling unit to convey the residual toner to the developing unit, a controller to form the forcible toner consumption image and transfer the forcible toner consumption image onto the surface of the endless moving member, and a second remover to remove the forcible toner consumption image from the endless moving member.

Abstract: A developing device has stirring members for conveying and stirring a developer-tank-contained developer and a developer holder, and has a developer replenishing tank for replenishing a replenishment developer to a developer tank; a toner concentration detecting sensor; a discharging mechanism for discharging an excessive amount of the developer-tank-contained developer outside the developer tank when the amount of the developer-tank-contained developer inside the developer tank exceeds a predetermined amount; and a control unit for replenishing the developer-tank-contained developer when it is detected that the toner concentration inside the developer tank is lower than a first reference value and for forcibly consuming the toner inside the developer tank and replenishing the replenishment developer when it is detected that the toner concentration inside the developer tank is higher than a second reference value that is higher than the first reference value.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a housing that stores a developing agent including toner and a carrier and that is replenished with the toner and the carrier; an agitation conveyance member that rotates the developing agent to thus agitate and convey the developing agent; a developing agent supply member that supplies to a developing area the conveyed developing agent; a first outlet that discharges a superfluous developing agent, which is in excess of first set storage capacity, of the stored developing agent and that is connected to a recovery device for transferring and collecting the superfluous developing agent; a second outlet that discharges an excessive developing agent, which is in excess of second set storage capacity that is larger in amount than the first set storage capacity, of the stored developing agent; a container that stores the excessive developing agent; and a detection unit that detects the stored excessive developing agent.

Abstract: In a trickle developing device that uses a two-component developer, a simple configuration is adopted to prevent carrier from being discharged without being used. The developing device having stirring members for conveying and stirring developer and a developer holder, comprises a developer replenishing tank for replenishing developer to a developer tank and a trickle discharging mechanism, wherein the initial filling amount of the developer-tank-contained developer to be filled initially into the developer tank is less than a full filling amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming section for forming an image, the image forming section including a photoconductor, a charging unit, a developing unit, a toner supply unit which supplies a toner to said developing unit, and a developing bias power supply section which supplies a developing bias voltage to said developing unit; and a controller that activates said image forming section, determines a target value of a charging potential of said photoconductor and/or a developing bias voltage, for forming the image, and controls the charging unit and/or the developing bias power supply section in accordance with a determined result, wherein when an absolute value of the determined target value of the charging potential or an absolute value of the determined developing bias voltage is larger than a prescribed value, said controller controls replacement of a prescribed amount of a toner in the developing unit.

Abstract: A developing roller supplies toner to an image on an image bearing body, the image being formed in accordance with image data. A toner supplying member supplies developer material to the developer bearing member. A computing section computes a dot population density in corresponding one of a plurality of sub data areas. The plurality of sub data areas are obtained by dividing the image data such that the plurality of sub data areas are aligned in a printable area of a print medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the print medium. A controller performs a developer material removing process based on the dot population density, in which the toner deposited on the developing roller is removed from the developing roller in an area corresponding to a low dot population density of image data.

Abstract: The level of toner color mixture in a developing device is maintained within the range not affecting the color shade of a final color image. In an image forming apparatus including four imaging units and placed along a moving intermediate transfer body, the imaging units having developing devices for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor to create a toner image and for collecting toner remaining on the photoconductor after transfer of the toner image, the developing device in the imaging unit performs forcible toner discharge operation when a toner mixture amount in the developing device of the imaging unit, which was computed from toner consumption of the imaging unit located on an upstream side, exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of shortening the user's print waiting time as much as possible when it is determined that image adjustment is necessary during the image forming operation, and a control method therefor. To accomplish this, in a color image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming stations which form toner images with a plurality of toners on the basis of a job, it is discriminated whether adjustment processing is necessary during a continuous image forming operation based on the job. If it is discriminated that adjustment processing is necessary, it is determined whether each of the image forming stations has a non-operating time enough to execute the discriminated adjustment processing during the image forming operation. The image forming station determined to have a non-operating time enough to execute adjustment processing executes the discriminated adjustment processing during the non-operating time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a development container, a developer bearing member, first and second carrying members that carry developer, a supply device that supplies developer for replenishment, a discharge opening that discharges the developer contained in the development container, a controller that selectively performs one of a first mode and a second mode, a drive device that changes speeds for driving the first and second carrying members, and a counter that measures the number of sheets in the second mode. The controller sets the speed of the drive device in the second mode to be slower than in the first mode, and suspends the second mode and executes a mode for changing the speed of the drive device to a speed faster than in the second mode and driving the first and second carrying members for a predetermined time if a measurement result reaches a reference value.

Abstract: This is a thumper assembly that is positioned in a developer station of a xerographic marking system. A waste container connected to a drop tube collects waste developer from this station. A magnet prevents magnetic developer from moving through the tube when the container is removed. Once a new container is installed, the magnet is moved away from the tube thereby allowing magnetic developer lodged therein to again move through the tube. A thumper is moved striking the tube to further dislodge developer and allow this developer to move through the tube into the waste container.

Abstract: A developer recovering mechanism used in a developing apparatus having a developer cartridge which houses developer, a developing unit in which the developer cartridge is installed and which can make a latent image of an image carrier visible by the developer, and a rotor at which the developing unit is loaded and which rotates and moves the developing unit successively to a developing region, the developer recovering mechanism having: a housing chamber provided at the developer cartridge, for housing recovered developer; a recovery opening for recovering developer, which is in the developing unit, into the housing chamber; and a shutter which is plate-shaped, one end side of the shutter being rotatably shaft-supported within the housing chamber, the shutter opening and closing the recovery opening in accordance with changes in gravity due to rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: In a method for generating a developer mixture in a developer station of an electrographic printing device, magnetizable carrier particles and toner are simultaneously filled into the developer station, and in case of an error or an aborting of the filling a continuation takes place at a later time of the method.

Abstract: In order to provide an image forming apparatus capable of maintaining the image quality by making smooth flowability of a surplus developer, which is discharged according to supply of a new developer (toner and carrier), toward a collection box, there are provided a stirring screw that electrify toner by stirring the toner together with a carrier; a casing that supports the stirring screw and stores a developer in which the toner and the carrier are mixed; a inlet used to supply the developer to the casing; a guide that guides the surplus developer discharged from the casing downward; and a reciprocating member that moves on a flow surface of the guide along which the surplus developer flows.

Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of shortening the user's print waiting time as much as possible when it is determined that image adjustment is necessary during the image forming operation, and a control method therefor. To accomplish this, in a color image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming stations which form toner images with a plurality of toners on the basis of a job, it is discriminated whether adjustment processing is necessary during a continuous image forming operation based on the job. If it is discriminated that adjustment processing is necessary, it is determined whether each of the image forming stations has a non-operating time enough to execute the discriminated adjustment processing during the image forming operation. The image forming station determined to have a non-operating time enough to execute adjustment processing executes the discriminated adjustment processing during the non-operating time.

Abstract: The image forming device of the present invention is able to be configured such that it has an image carrier that carries electrostatic latent image, a rotary type developing unit having a plurality of developing machines that stores toner in the interior thereof and is able to develop the electrostatic latent image by providing toner on the image carrier, and a control unit that is configured to execute a toner discharge process that discharges a portion of toner in the interior of a developing machine mentioned after rotating the developing unit, during a time that an image is not being formed and after a single color image formation using only a developing machine out of the plurality of developing machines.

Abstract: To provide an image forming device that is capable of preventing deterioration of the image quality through preventing deterioration of the toner even if frequency of making a copy is low. The image forming device includes: a developing part having a developing roller for achieving development by electrostatically attaching a toner onto an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor; a transferring part for transferring a developed toner image to a paper; and a cleaner part for removing and collecting the toner remained on the photoreceptor after transferring, wherein the developing roller is rotary-driven at a lower speed than a speed of development under a standby state. The image forming device includes a standby-state refresh control part for forcibly consuming an amount of the toner that is calculated based on accumulated time of the low-speed rotary drive.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a developing unit for attaching developer to a static latent image formed through charging and exposing to form a developer image; an image supporting member for supporting the developer image formed with the developing unit; a removing member disposed to abut against the image supporting member for removing developer; a drive unit for driving the image supporting member; a drive control unit for controlling the drive unit; and a fixing unit for fixing the developer image to a medium. It is configured such that the drive control unit controls the drive unit to temporarily stop before developer is discharged.

Abstract: In the case that images having high coverage ratios are printed out continuously in a trickle developing apparatus that uses a two-component developer, the developing apparatus judges how much carrier is accumulated inside a developer tank beyond the discharge level of a trickle discharging mechanism and carries out appropriate processing before the developer overflows over a regulating gap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a developing apparatus capable of predicting how much carrier is accumulated inside a developer tank beyond the discharge level of a trickle discharging mechanism in the case that images having high coverage ratios are printed out continuously in a trickle developing apparatus that uses a two-component developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a development device, a developer collection device, a detector, and a controller. The image carrier carries a latent image. The development device develops the latent image into a toner image, and includes a developer carrier opposing the image carrier and carrying a developer. The developer collection device collects the developer from the development device when the development device is driven. The detector detects a state in which the developer carrier does not carry the developer. The controller starts driving the image carrier, starts driving the development device to cause the developer collection device to start collecting the developer, and stops driving the image carrier when the detector detects the state in which the developer carrier does not carry the developer, to collect the developer from the development device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes main control section for controlling the charging control section and the development bias control section so that a potential difference between the photoconductor potential and the development bias potential in developer discharge from the development section is smaller than that in the image forming. Therefore, even when an amount of developer in the development section decreases due to developer discharge, increase of beads-carry-over onto the photoconductor from the development section can be prevented. Accordingly, damage to the photoconductor or image errors due to incomplete cleaning that are caused by beads-carry-over can be prevented.

Abstract: A waste developer collecting device comprising: a collecting container; a collecting opening; a conveying unit; a filter; a partition wall; and an air inlet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units each having an image supporting member, a developer supporting member, and a cleaning member for cleaning developer on the image supporting member. The image forming apparatus further includes a transfer device for transferring a developer image to a medium; a fixing device for fixing the developer image to the medium; a first detection unit for detecting a first physical value of an external environment of the image forming apparatus; a second detection unit for detecting a second physical value of an internal environment of the image forming apparatus; and a control unit for determining whether at least one of the image forming units performs a developer discard mode in which developer is discarded according to the first physical value, the second physical value, and a distance between the one of the image forming units and the fixing device.

Abstract: A waste developer collecting device included in a color tandem image forming apparatus which forms an image using K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) developers includes a collecting container which can be attached to a developing device storing the C developer, a developing device storing the M developer, and a developing device storing the Y developer at the same time and which collects the C, M, and Y developers discharged from the respective developing devices. With this, it is possible to efficiently discharge and collect the developers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a horizontal carrying mechanism that collects a waste developer in the horizontal direction, relay carrying mechanisms that carry the waste developer collected by the horizontal carrying mechanism to a desired position, a vertical carrying mechanism that carries the waste developer, which is carried by the relay carrying mechanisms, in the vertical upward direction, and a relay carrying mechanism that feeds the waste developer carried by the vertical carrying mechanism into a storage case. A waste developer flow rate of a waste-developer carrying mechanism at a post stage is equal to or larger than a waste developer flow rate of a waste-developer carrying mechanism at a pre-stage thereof.

Abstract: A waste developer collecting device ejects and collects a waste developer used in a developing unit employing a two-component developing system in which a developer that contains toner and carrier is used. The waste developer collecting device includes: an opening and closing section for opening and closing a developer ejection opening formed on a bottom portion of the developing unit; an opening operation prohibiting section for prohibiting the opening operation of the opening and closing section; a collecting container for collecting the developer ejected through the developer ejection opening; and a collecting container fixing section for fixing the collecting container at a position where the developer ejected from the developing unit is collected. The opening operation prohibiting section allows the opening operation of the opening and closing section when the collecting container is coupled to the collecting container fixing section.

Abstract: A developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus of a premix developing system, with which developer splashed by the transport member is not discharged from the device, fluctuations of the amount of developer discharged to the outside are not produced, and the output image quality is stable. This developing device is provided with a pocket part, which is installed in a depressed manner facing the outside in relation to the transport route formed by the transport member, and into and out of which part of the developer transported in the transport route flows. This pocket part is provided with a discharge port for discharging developer to outside the device when the surface of the developer flowing into the pocket part exceeds a specified height.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus and process cartridge exhibiting high durability, in which such disadvantages as irregular recovery of untransferred toner and the advance of carrier degradation are not produced even when jointly using a trickle development system and a cleanerless system, comprising an image support member on which a latent image is formed; a developing unit that houses developer having carrier and toner, develops the latent image formed on the image support member, and recovers untransferred toner remaining on the image support member; a carrier supply unit that supplies carrier to the developing unit; carrier discharge means that discharges carrier housed in the developing unit to outside of the developing unit; and lubricant supply means that supplies lubricant onto the image support member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a photoconductor to have an electrostatic latent image formed thereon, a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image with a toner, a toner replenishing device for replenishing the toner into the developing device, and a controller for controlling an image developing operation by the developing device and a toner replenishing operation by the toner replenishing device. The controller executes a non-replenishment mode for causing the developing device to perform image development without being replenished with the toner from the toner replenishing device, a discharge mode, following the non-replenishment mode, for discharging the toner remaining in the developing device and a refill mode, following the discharge mode, for refilling the toner into the developing device by the toner replenishing device.

Abstract: In order to replace out-of-date flowing medium in a system, where the medium has a component which ages, out-of-date flowing medium is removed and a quantity of fresh flowing medium or a fresh component are added while maintaining a given level of the flowing medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming stations each provided with an image bearing member, a developing device for collecting any untransferred toner on the image bearing member and at the same time, developing an electrostatic image with a toner, and a transfer device for transferring the toner image on the image bearing member to a transfer material, wherein when in a first station and a second station downstream thereof with respect to the movement direction of the transfer material, of the plurality of image forming stations, a toner discharging operation of discharging the toner from each developing device is performed during a non-image forming operation, the toner discharging amount in the second station is controlled so as to be greater than the toner discharging amount in the first station.

Abstract: The presently described embodiments relate to improving system productivity where maintenance purge routines are required through use of a digital front end (DFE) job scheduler. This approach utilizes knowledge of future jobs to maximize productivity. So, even if a low coverage area job is being processed, and a purge routine is scheduled, the purge routine may be avoided. This is achieved by projecting the system evolution over a future time horizon and determining the schedule of toner purge events (a non productive dead cycle) to minimize a cost function that penalizes the purge event (dead cycling and material loss should be minimized) and the deviation of average toner resident time in the sump from some desired set point of range. In this regard, knowledge that a high coverage area job is downstream and average toner residient time may be advantageously used to effectively perform the purge itself while in productive mode.

Abstract: A developer vent is provided on the wall of the developer container housing developer including toner and carrier for the developing device to overflow developer. The sectional shape of the discharge dam forming the developer vent in the vertical direction to the developer vent is such that the top part of the dam is made thinner than the wall thickness of the developer container and the slanting angle of the dam to the wall of the developer container is made larger than the repose angle of the developer.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, a developing agent, a refilling port, a transport member, and an agitation enhancer. The developing agent includes toner particles and carrier particles and is refilled to the developing apparatus from the refilling port. The transport member transports the developing agent to the developing roller while agitating the developing agent. The agitation enhancer is provided on a peripheral portion of the transport member to increase agitation movement of the developing agent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developing device which applies a developing bias voltage obtained by superimposing an AC bias voltage onto a DC bias voltage to a photoreceptor, and develops a latent image on the photoreceptor with a developer to form a toner image. The apparatus has a toner forced discharge mode for forming a toner image for forced discharge in a first image formation area provided in a non-image formation area other than a second image formation area on the photoreceptor to forcibly discharge a toner from the developing device. When the mode is selected, an AC bias voltage at a frequency lower than that in the second image formation area is applied to the first image formation area to develop a latent image for forced discharge, to form a toner image, and a toner of the toner image is collected by a cleaning device.

Abstract: An electrostatic printing machine having a plurality of color stations having a system for maintaining a preset toner age in each of the plurality of color stations, the including: determining a toner age for each of the plurality of color stations; determining if purge while run is required based on the toner age for each of the plurality of color stations; defining an area on a unused portion of an imaging frame for a purge patch, the defining includes sizing a plurality of purge patch regions wherein each of the purge patch regions may have a different size; allocating each of the plurality of purge patch regions to at least one color plane from a group of color separations.

Abstract: A developing device configured to carry out development of an electrostatic image using color toner particles and transparent toner particles includes color and transparent developing units configured to store toner particles, carrier particles, and additive particles and configured to carry out development of the electrostatic image; color and transparent developer replenishment containers configured to store replenishment developers including at least the toner particles and the carrier particles and configured to replenish developing units with the replenishment developers; and color and transparent developers openings provided at the developing units and configured to discharge the developers in the developing units outside the developing units while replenishing the developing units with the replenishment developers, wherein the carrier particle weight ratio of the transparent replenishment developer is higher than the carrier particle weight ratio of the color replenishment developer.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing device for color receiving colored toner and a carrier and developing an electrostatic image; a developing device for transparence receiving transparent toner and a carrier and developing the electrostatic image; a developer replenishment container for color receiving a replenishment developer for color; a developer replenishment container for transparence receiving a replenishment developer for transparence; a developer discharge aperture for color; and a developer discharge aperture for transparence, respectively, discharging developers in the developing devices to the outside of the developing devices in association with replenishment with the replenishment developers and a related image forming method. The replenishment developer for transparence has a carrier weight ratio lower than a carrier weight ratio in the replenishment developer for color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying member; a latent image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrying member; a developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image on the image carrying member to form a toner image; a forcible discharge unit to forcibly discharge the toner from the developing unit; a toner supplying unit to supply toner by the discharged quantity; and a fog-detection unit to detect fog of the image, wherein the forcible discharge unit forcibly discharges the toner from the developing unit based on a detected result of the fog-detection unit.

Abstract: A developing device includes a container, a stirring and transferring unit, a replenishing unit, and a discharging mechanism. The container contains developer including toner and carrier. The stirring and transferring unit is located in the container to mix and stir the toner and the carrier, and circulates the developer in the container. The replenishing unit replenishes the container with developer from an opening of the container. The discharging mechanism discharges surplus developer out of the container, and is located on a rotation shaft of the stirring and transferring unit.

Abstract: The image forming device of the present invention is able to be configured such that it has an image carrier that carries electrostatic latent image, a rotary type developing unit having a plurality of developing machines that stores toner in the interior thereof and is able to develop the electrostatic latent image by providing toner on the image carrier, and a control unit that is configured to execute a toner discharge process that discharges a portion of toner in the interior of a developing machine mentioned after rotating the developing unit, during a time that an image is not being formed and after a single color image formation using only a developing machine out of the plurality of developing machines.

Abstract: A trickle collection system including a trickle port formed in a developer housing and communicating with the interior of the developer housing, and a trickle port housing communicating the trickle port with an external vacuum collection source. The trickle port may include an aperture having a variable cross-section, for controlling an amount of flow of trickle through the trickle port. The trickle collection system also may include an air infusion port communicating the interior of the trickle port housing with external air and providing infusion of an amount of external air into the trickle port housing sufficient to facilitate flow of trickle from the trickle port to the external vacuum collection system. An aperture of the air infusion port may be variable, such that the amount of air infusion may be varied in accordance with internal and/or external conditions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner forced discharge treatment for executing a toner discharge mode in which toner inside a developing device is forcedly consumed, and a toner discharge judgment treatment capable of judging necessity of execution of the toner discharge mode based on a decision as to whether or not a toner state inside the developing device is in a state of leading to an image quality defect. Further, the apparatus includes a toner forced supply treatment for executing a toner supply mode in which new toner is supplied from a toner replenishment device to the developing device in addition to execution of the toner discharge mode.