Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form image data on a printing medium, the apparatus includes a developing cartridge having a developer transfer body to transfer developer to an image receptor, a developer storing unit to separately store a transfer-regulated developer which has been transfer-regulated in the developer transfer body and a non-transferred developer which is not transferred to the developer transfer body, and a used developer storing unit to store a used developer separated from a surface of the photoreceptor; a printing information storing unit to store cartridge printing information of the developing cartridge; and a controller to calculate an average printing density on a basis of the cartridge printing information, and to control the developing cartridge so that an amount in which the transfer-regulated developer of the developer storing unit is transferred to the used developer storing unit can exceed a reference amount if the calculated average printing density is below a reference printing

Abstract: The present invention realizes an image forming apparatus which is equipped with a carrier recovery section of simple configuration and for which maintenance is not required, the apparatus includes: a photoconductive drum; a developing device to develop a latent image formed on the photoconductive drum by a two-component developer containing a toner and a magnetic carrier, and a carrier recovery section which is equipped with a recovery roller, wherein the carrier recovery roller includes a rotatable sleeve, and a magnet roller that is installed inside the sleeve and provided with a plurality of fixed magnetic poles including a main pole to recover the magnetic carrier adhered onto the photoconductive drum and a separating pole to separate the magnetic carrier from the recovery roller, wherein a separating member is disposed at such a position that is opposite to the sleeve at a prescribed distance in a non-contact state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member, on which an electrostatic image is formed; a development unit which is provided with a developer bearing member for bearing and conveying a developer, so as to develop the electrostatic image; a storage place which can store therein the developer spattering from the development unit; a shielding member which is disposed in a region outside of a development region in the storage place; and a foreign material collecting member which is disposed in a region farther outside of the shielding member in the storage place.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) that detects blade deflection from a print assembly contact surface is disclosed. The apparatus can include a print assembly (110) rotationally supported in the apparatus, where the print assembly can have a print assembly contact surface (112) and a print assembly conductor (114). The apparatus can include a blade (120) configured to be coupled to the print assembly contact surface and a blade conductive layer (130) coupled to the blade. The apparatus can include a sensor (140) configured to measure a capacitance between the blade conductive layer and the print assembly conductor.

Abstract: A carrier removing apparatus, including: an electrode, having a plurality of openings through which a carrier passes, disposed to oppose an image carrier, and a power source to apply a voltage onto the electrode so as to separate the carrier on the image carrier from the image carrier, wherein the electrode has a surface along a surface of the image carrier.

Abstract: A device for metering developer material to a predefined developer material bed height on a donor member, including a trim bar being mounted a predefined spacing from the donor member; and a magnetic member positioned adjacent and along the length of the trim bar, the magnetic member coacting with the trim bar to obtain the predefined developer material bed height on the donor member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transportation member rotating to transport a medium or developer; a blade member disposed to abut against the transportation member for removing an object adhering to a surface of the transportation member; and a retaining member disposed on an upstream side of the blade member in a direction that the transportation member rotates and abutting against the transportation member for retaining the object adhering to the surface of the transportation member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having at least a latent electrostatic image bearing member, and a recharging unit configured to recharge a residual toner remaining on the latent electrostatic image bearing member, wherein after transfer, the residual toner is passed through the recharging unit and is then recovered in a developing device; a charging component of the recharging unit that comes into contact with the latent electrostatic image bearing member is a polymer sheet having a surface roughness (Ra) of 0.12 ?m to 0.51 ?m; the toner contains at least a pigment, a binder resin, and a releasing agent, and contains inorganic fine particles as an external additive, and the amount of the inorganic fine particles and the amount of the releasing agent satisfy three specific Expressions.

Abstract: A developing device includes a rotatable toner bearing roller and a regulation blade. The toner bearing roller has regularly-arranged projecting sections and non-projecting sections, bears toner whose volume average particle diameter is smaller than a depth of the non-projecting section relative to the projecting section, and develops a latent image borne on an image bearing member with the toner borne on the toner bearing roller. The regulation blade is for regulating an amount of the toner borne on the toner bearing roller, and abuts, with a predetermined width, against a circumferential surface of the toner bearing roller in a circumferential direction thereof in such a manner that a longitudinal direction of the regulation blade is along a direction of a rotation axis of the toner bearing roller. A tip edge of the regulation blade in a lateral direction and a thickness direction thereof is located within an abutting section having the predetermined width.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method for a self-cleaning toner roller device adjacent a toner roller. The cleaning device having one or more shields to capture the toner debris from the toner roller, a toner debris receptacle to collect the toner debris, and a controller to move the applicator from an operational mode to a self-cleaning mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a toner image forming member, an intermediary transfer member for forming a primary transfer portion, and a primary transfer member supplied with a transfer voltage. The apparatus also has a voltage source for supplying, to the primary transfer member, a transfer voltage and a voltage of a polarity opposite to the transfer voltage, an image bearing member cleaning apparatus for removing toner from the image bearing member, a secondary transferring member, and an intermediary transfer member cleaning apparatus for electrostatically removing toner from the intermediary transfer member. The apparatus further has a voltage source control apparatus for controlling the voltage source so as to apply, to the primary transfer member, a voltage having an absolute value larger than a discharge threshold and having the polarity opposite to the transfer voltage, when a non-recording toner pattern passes through the primary transfer portion.

Abstract: A single component development device including a toner including a resin, a coloring agent, a wax, a charge control agent and an inorganic particulate, a development roller to bear the toner on the surface of the development roller and transfer the toner to an image bearing member and a thin layer forming member to regulate a thickness of the layer of the toner while in contact with the surface of the development roller via the toner borne thereon, wherein a regulating pressure A between the thin layer forming member and the development roller is from 25 to 60 (N/m), a content Z (weight %) of the charge control agent satisfies the following relationship (1) and an average dispersion particle diameter D (nm) of the charge control agent satisfies the following relationship (2): 0.029×A?0.150>Z>0.013×A?0.013??Relationship (1) D<6.3×A?106.3??Relationship (2).

Abstract: An amount-of-developer regulating apparatus configured to restrict the amount of developer carried on a developer bearing member. The amount-of-developer regulating apparatus includes a flexible developer amount regulation member having a contact portion configured to contact with a developer bearing member, and first and second holding portions configured to hold the developer amount regulation member and to contact with the developer amount regulation member at further upstream and further downstream in a direction where the developer bearing member is rotationally moved than the contact portion. With a pressure distribution of the contact portion as to the developer bearing member, there are a plurality of local maximum values in the direction where the developer bearing member is rotationally moved. Thus, the apparatus can be reduced in size, and also image concentration unevenness after long-term use can be prevented.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image-forming device having a developer-carrying member, an image-carrying member, a belt, and a cleaning unit. The developer-carrying member has an outer surface including a thin layer forming region for carrying a thin layer of developer. The thin layer forming region has a first width in a widthwise direction. The thin layer forming region includes an effective image forming region used for forming an image on a recording medium. The image-carrying member has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image based on the image is formed and developed into a developer image by the developer carried on the effective image forming region. The belt is configured to circulate in a moving direction orthogonal to the widthwise direction and transfer the developer image onto the recording medium. The belt has an outer surface including a cleanable region having a second width in the widthwise direction. The cleaning unit cleans the developer on the cleanable region.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a reducing plate that dams up a part of a developer scraped up by a blade is provided. The reducing plate suppresses swell of the developer held up by a discharge mixer from fluctuating according to the rotation of the blade. Fluctuation in an excess developer discharged from a discharge port is suppressed and replace a deteriorated carrier in a development container with a new carrier little by little.

Abstract: A toner deterioration judging method includes measuring a time taken for a recess formed on a toner surface to be evened due to flowability of the toner, and judging deterioration of the toner in accordance with the measured time.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning unit configured to remove toner on an image bearing member, a container adapted to contain the removed toner that is recovered, a screw configured to convey the removed toner toward the container, a spherical moving member configured to be moved by the rotation of the screw in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw, and a driving unit configured to rotate the screw in a first direction for conveying the moving member toward the container and in a second direction opposite from the first direction for conveying the moving member.

Abstract: A printing machine having a colorant support, a transfer device, a delivery apparatus, and a colorant stripper. The transfer device is arranged to transfer colorant from a reservoir onto the colorant support such that during operation of the printing machine, a colorant is transferred from the transfer device onto the colorant support. The delivery apparatus is arranged to deliver at least part of the colorant from the colorant support onto a printing medium or a transfer means. The colorant support and the colorant stripper are arranged so that during operation of the printing machine, non-consumed colorant is transferred from the colorant support onto the colorant stripper. The invention is also a method for printing using such an apparatus.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer tank for housing a two-component developer containing toner and magnetic carrier; a first conveying portion having a first rotary shaft rotatable about its axis and a first screw blade which surrounds the first rotary shaft and rotates together with the first rotary shaft and contains a ferromagnetic substance; a second conveying portion having a second rotary shaft rotatable about its axis and a second screw blade which surrounds the second rotary shaft and rotates together with the second rotary shaft and contains a ferromagnetic substance; a first electromagnet for magnetizing the first screw blade; and a second electromagnet for magnetizing the second screw blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning unit including a cleaning blade which contacts with an image carrier and peels a collected material on the image carrier, and an auger to convey the peeled collected material in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the image carrier. The auger includes an axial body to rotate around a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier, a spiral conveyance portion spirally provided on an outer peripheral curved surface of the axial body, and a conveyance portion. The conveyance portion includes a base portion extending in a lateral direction, and plural vane portions provided to be spaced from each other at specified intervals in a longitudinal direction of the base portion.

Abstract: Disclosed are a developing unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The developing unit includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame supports thereon a first set of processing members and includes at least one jig hole for mounting to a jig. The second frame supports thereon a second set of processing members. Several connection parts provided in the first and second frames allow assembly of the developing unit that includes a rectilinear movement and a rotational movement of the first and second frames relative to each other during the coupling together of the connection parts so as to couple the first and second frames together. The relative movement in certain direction of the frames may be limited during the relative rotational movement of the frames.

Abstract: A developing device comprises: a development roller configured to rotate while carrying liquid toner which comprises a carrier liquid and toner particles contained in the carrier liquid; a cleaning blade configured to contact with the development roller to scrape off the liquid toner carried on the development roller by the rotation of the development roller; and a cleaning roller provided adjacent to the development roller and upstream from the cleaning blade with respect to a rotating direction of the development roller. In the developing device, the development roller and the cleaning roller are configured to rotate in such a direction that outer peripheral surfaces thereof move in opposite directions to each other at a contact surface where the cleaning roller contacts with the development roller.

Abstract: A developer transporting apparatus includes: a drop path; a developer transporting path; a developer transporting member; and an aggregation preventing member including: a contact portion that is in contact with the developer transporting member, and that moves in conjunction with the rotation of the developer transporting member; and a developer scrub-off portion that is disposed between an inner wall surface of the developer transporting path and the developer transporting member, and that moves along the inner wall surface in conjunction with the movement of the contact portion, at least part of the aggregation preventing member being disposed at a connecting portion between the drop path and the developer transporting path to prevent the aggregation of the developer to the inner wall surface.

Abstract: An image forming method including forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor; developing the latent image with a developer including a toner using a center-feed developing device to form a toner image; transferring the toner image onto a receiving material; and fixing the toner image using a fixing member coated with silicone oil. The toner includes at least a binder resin; a colorant; and a quaternary ammonium salt having a specific formula, wherein when the toner is dispersed in ethanol using ultrasonic waves, the dispersion has a turbidity of from 0.4 to 1.0 when the turbidity is determined using a haze meter. An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor; a center-feed developing device using a developer including the toner; a transferring device; a fixing device using a fixing member coated with silicone oil; and a cleaner for the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a spacer roller that contacts a photosensitive drum outside a running region of a transfer member. The spacer roller forms a gap between a developing roller and the photosensitive drum. A cleaning device is positioned at downstream side of a nip position formed between the photosensitive drum and the transfer member. A toner removing blade is disposed between the downstream side of the nip and an upstream side of the cleaning device. The toner removing blade has a contact portion that contacts a contact region between the photosensitive drum and the spacer roller. The rotation axis of the photosensitive drum extends along an inner end of the contact portion. This inner end of the contact portion is positioned within a toner collecting region in which toner is scraped off by the cleaning device.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning member for removing developer attached to a developer attaching member; a rotation carrying member which is rotatably configured to carry the developer that is removed by the cleaning member; a housing member for housing the developer that is removed by the cleaning member and configured as a part of a developer housing part that surrounds the rotation carrying member; and an elastic member arranged to contact a periphery of the rotation carrying member.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a blade disposed so as to contact an image bearing body that bears a developer image. The blade scrapes off a developer adhering to the image bearing body. The blade has an edge portion including first and second surfaces, and is configured so that a distance between the first and second surfaces decreases toward a tip of the edge portion. The first and second surfaces form a predetermined edge angle at the tip of the edge portion. An area of the first surface is smaller than an area of the second surface, and the first surface contacts the image bearing body.

Abstract: A suction duct that sucks air is provided downstream from a magnet roller that applies a developer to a photoconductor while rotating, in a direction of rotation of the photoconductor, and upstream of a surface potential sensor that measures surface potential of the photoconductor. Moreover, ribs for adjusting an air flow are arranged within the suction duct in such a manner that a width of an air flow passage formed by a rear end in a direction of air flow and a forward end of a nearest rib in the direction of air flow is narrowed from a rib installed upstream in the direction of air flow toward a rib installed downstream. The collection duct collects a floating developer by using a negative pressure.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a charge retentive surface is developed with toner particles to form a visible image thereof, including: a housing having a supply of toner and developer therein; a donor member for transporting toner from the housing to a development zone; a first manifold, adjacent to the donor member, having an air stream for removing toner emission; a second manifold, adjacent to the donor member, having an air stream for removing toner emission; and a cyclone separator system, connected to the first manifold and the second manifold, for separating the toner from the air stream and returning toner particles of a predefined size back into the housing.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is provided with: a developing roller; and a recovering roller that is arranged so as to oppose the developing roller, recovers scattered toner, and stores negatively chargeable toner, wherein the recovering roller has its surface coated with a fluorine resin or a silicone resin, and is provided with a blade that removes the scattered toner, and a difference (A?C) between a work function (A) of the resin and a work function (C) of the blade is greater than or equal to 0.10 eV.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to controlling a performance characteristic of an image forming device component having a surface which may include removal of a portion of the surface to expose a plurality of voids and a surface between the voids. The surface between the voids may have a surface roughness Ra in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 microns and the relationship SAV/(SAV+SAC) is equal to 1-50%, where SAV is the surface area of the voids and SAC is the remaining surface area of the component. The performance characteristic may include the control of toner mass conveyed and/or toner filming and/or the amount of residual toner removed from a photoconductive surface.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus is provided with a lock mechanism in a shutter member of opening and closing a toner discharge port, and once the process cartridge is mounted onto an image forming apparatus, the lock mechanism is configured to be unlocked so as to enable the shutter member to open and close subject to unlocking of a lock.

Abstract: A developing device capable of preventing deterioration of the image quality, which is caused when a developer recovered by a developing roller re-adheres thereto, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the developing device. The developer conveyance amount on the upstream side of an agitation conveyance path in a developer conveyance direction becomes larger than the amount of developer to be transported from a recovery conveyance path to the agitation conveyance path, by making the developer conveyance amount on the upstream side of an agitating screw in the developer conveyance direction equal to or larger than the developer conveyance amount on the downstream side of a recovery screw in the developer conveyance direction. Accordingly, the amount of developer existing on the upstream side of the agitation conveyance path in the developer conveyance direction becomes small, whereby the developer can be delivered smoothly from the recovery conveyance path to the agitation conveyance path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention holds a first developing agent of a first color and inverse transfer preventing agent, supplies the first developing agent with predetermined potential, supplies the first developing agent to an image portion of an image carrier, supplies the inverse transfer preventing agent with the first developing agent and electric charge of an inverse polarity, supplies the inverse transfer preventing agent to a non-image portion having a predetermined potential difference relative to an image portion, brings the image carrier into contact with a transfer object medium to which a second developing agent of a second color different from the first color is already transferred and transfers the first developing agent to the transfer object medium.

Abstract: A toner layer regulating system for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprises a toner carrier; a metallic toner regulating member having a stress-strain curve prior to assembly with an elastic region, an inelastic region, and an initial yield stress value; and the toner regulating member supported in cantilevered fashion against the toner carrier so as to form a toner nip therebetween with an applied stress on the toner regulating member greater than the initial yield stress value. The metallic toner regulating member may comprise a metallic substrate and a coating thereon; the coating helping to form the toner nip. By deflecting the toner regulating member, when installed, by an amount that induces strains falling outside the elastic region of the corresponding stress-strain curve, the toner regulating system is less sensitive to geometrical variances.

Abstract: The toner feeder is removably mounted in an image forming apparatus including a rotation driver for rotating a toner container and a rotation controller for controlling the rotation driver. The toner feeder comprises a toner container for containing toner, and a support holder which holds the toner container in an axially rotatable manner. The toner container has a toner outlet port and a magnetic member provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The support holder includes magnetism detection means which detects passage of the magnetic member and outputs a detection signal to the rotation controller. The rotation controller controls the rotation driver so as to stop the toner container with the toner outlet port oriented upward with respect to a gravity direction on the basis of the output of the magnetism detection means after the toner container is rotated by the rotation driver to feed out a predetermined amount of toner from the toner outlet port.

Abstract: A device to regulate toner within an image forming apparatus. The regulating member has a first section and a toner regulating edge with at least one gap. The regulating member controls the amount of toner that is distributed on the surface of the toner developer roller by contacting the toner developing roller in a contact region. The gap, having at least one upper edge, may regulate toner on the toner developer roller near the contact region. The toner regulating device may prevent inadvertent toner marks that may appear on printed media.

Abstract: A carrier bead pickoff device is provided for removing ferromagnetic carrier beads from a developed image-carrying surface of a moving photoreceptor in an electrostatographic image reproduction machine.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus in accordance with the present invention generally include a housing and a portal defined therethrough, whereby a vacuum filter cartridge can be placed in an operable position within the housing by way of the portal. The vacuum filter cartridge can have a hose operatively connected thereto. Air can be induced to flow into and through the hose, and thereby into and through the vacuum filter cartridge. The airflow can have a velocity sufficient to cause debris to be inducted into the hose and into the vacuum filter cartridge to be filtered, thus rendering the vacuum filter cartridge and hose operable as a cleaning device.

Abstract: A developing device having a plurality of developing devices for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member by a developer including a toner and a carrier, a rotary member carrying the plurality of developing devices therein and rotated in a route including a developing portion, a discharging port provided in each of the plurality of developing devices for discharging any excess developer therethrough with the supply of the developer to the developing device located in the developing portion, a collecting pipe provided in the rotary member for collecting therethrough the excess developer discharged from the plurality of developing devices, and a communicating tube for linking the discharging port and the collecting pipe together, the communicating tube being made into a slope shape from the discharging port toward the collecting pipe, wherein when the developing devices are located in the developing portion, the discharging port is located above the collecting pipe.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a particle conveying body made up of a light-transmitting conductive layer, an insulative'screen provided on the conductive layer and formed with a number of pores, and a screen electrode formed on the screen. Photoconductive, colored particles are charged to negative polarity and then caused to fill the pores by an electric field. When the particles in the pores are exposed via the conductive layer, electron-hole pairs are generated in the particles. An electric field of as high as 104 V/cm or above is formed between the conductive layer and the screen electrode and separates the electrons and holes. The electrons leak to the conductive layer and cause the particles to be charged to positive polarity. An electric field formed between a facing electrode positioned behind a recording medium and the conductive layer causes the particles to fly toward and deposit on the medium.

Abstract: A protection circuit for an electrophotographic image-forming apparatus is disclosed. The protection circuit monitors the operational state between the power supply and scavenger plate of the electrophotographic image-forming apparatus and issues an interrupt signal whenever a de-coupled state is sensed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a particle conveying body made up of a light-transmitting conductive layer, an insulative screen provided on the conductive layer and formed with a number of pores, and a screen electrode formed on the screen. Photoconductive, colored particles are charged to negative polarity and then caused to fill the pores by an electric field. When the particles in the pores are exposed via the conductive layer, electron-hole pairs are generated in the particles. An electric field of as high as 104 V/cm or above is formed between the conductive layer and the screen electrode and separates the electrons and holes. The electrons leak to the conductive layer and cause the particles to be charged to positive polarity. An electric field formed between a facing electrode positioned behind a recording medium and the conductive layer causes the particles to fly toward and deposit on the medium.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member, a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole of a same polarity as that of the first magnetic pole, and a regulating member. A regulating portion of the regulating member is provided within a range from a point of the maximum magnetic flux density of the second magnetic pole and an angular point corresponding to a half of the half value width of the second magnetic pole at the downstream side in the rotating direction of the developer bearing member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing device having a first magnetic pole opposed to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a second magnetic pole of the developing device arranged at a predetermined angle to the first magnetic pole, for supplying the electrostatic latent image with a developing agent having toner and carrier, where the second magnetic pole is of one polarity.

Abstract: A developing device used in an image forming apparatus has a developing roller at a lower opening of a toner hopper, and the developing roller contacts a photosensitive drum to form a developing portion therebetween. The hopper stores nonmagnetic toner and is provided with a toner stirring member and a toner feed roller being in press-contact with the developing roller in a lower part of the hopper. A doctor blade contacts a circumferential surface of the developing roller on an upstream side of the developing portion in a rotation direction of the drum. A conductive scooping sheet contacts the circumferential surface of the developing roller on a downstream side of the developing portion. A residual toner not used to develop a latent image on the drum and left on the developing roller is passed under the sheet into the hopper with the rotation of the developing roller.

Abstract: A development apparatus according to the invention comprises at least two developer carrier members in juxtaposition for transporting a developer material to a development region between the developer carrier members and an image bearing member in opposed relation. An AC voltage applying device is adapted to apply AC voltages to the respective developer carrier members thereby applying AC electric fields to the respective gaps between the developer carrier members and the image bearing member based on an active period to apply the AC electric field and an inactive period to apply no AC electric field. When one of the adjacent developer carrier members is subject to the active period, the other developer carrier member is subject to the inactive period.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing magnetic granules from a moving imaging surface in a region between a developer station and a transfer station is provided. The apparatus includes a removing member located between the developer station and the transfer station. The removing member is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. A groove is located in an exterior surface of the removing member. A portion of the groove extends in a direction skewed to the longitudinal axis of the removing member. The apparatus also includes a a magnetic member which is operatively associated with the removing member. The magnetic member generates a magnetic field to attract the magnetic granules from the imaging surface to the removing member. The removing member and the magnetic member move relatively to one another.

Abstract: A dual-component magnetic brush developing device using a dual-component developer containing magnetic carriers and toner electrically attracted to the magnetic carriers.

Abstract: Magnetic carrier particles are removed from a photoconductive image member by subjecting the carrier particles to a magnetic field while or after exposing the photoconductive image member to erasing radiation in the absence of a substantial electrical field affecting the carrier particles.