Abstract: At the start of paper conveyance, a gate is turned upwards to a first position to thereby close a sixth conveying path and establish communication between a first conveying path and a second conveying path so that the paper having passed through a fixing unit starts to be conveyed from first conveying path to second conveying path. At the same time, air is exhausted from an exhausting mechanism arranged upstream of a cooling mechanism. When a first paper sensor detects the leading end of the paper, a cooling fan starts to rotate at a predetermined rotational rate to start blowing air at a predetermined volume of cooling airflow.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of optical scanning devices, a job receiver, a job executor, an image discriminator, a temperature condition judger and a temperature adjuster. When a formation-target image is a single-color image and an image to be formed next is a multi-color image, the temperature adjuster drives a motor of one optical scanning device at a second rotating speed slower than a rotating speed during an image forming operation and drives motors of unused optical scanning devices at a third rotating speed faster than the second rotating speed if a temperature condition is satisfied upon the completion of an image forming operation of the single-color image.

Abstract: Of a cooling device that is for use in an image forming apparatus and that includes: a heat receiving unit that receives heat from a cooling target and that is disposed to come into and away from contact with the cooling target; a heat radiating unit that radiates the heat received by the heat receiving unit; a heat conductive member disposed on at least one of a surface of the heat receiving unit on the side facing the cooling target and a surface of the cooling target on the side facing the heat receiving unit; and a protection member that is disposed on the heat conductive member to protect the heat conductive member, the protection member is substantially incompatible with binder resin of toner for use in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of optical scanning devices, a mode receiver, a temperature condition judger and a temperature adjuster. In the case of forming an image using one optical scanning device, the temperature adjuster drives motors of unused optical scanning devices at a first rotation speed if a predetermined temperature condition is satisfied and drives the motors of the unused optical scanning devices at a second rotation speed slower than the first rotation speed if image formation is finished during the drive at the first rotation speed.

Abstract: A cooling device including at least two cooling members to cool a recording medium passing thereover, a coolant circulation unit to circulate a coolant, and tubing that connects the coolant circulation unit to the cooling members and through which the coolant circulates. Each of the cooling members includes a heat-absorbing surface that directly contacts the recording medium or indirectly contacts the recording medium via a thermal transmission member, an internal channel provided within each of the cooling members through which the coolant circulates, and a channel inlet and outlet formed at downstream and upstream ends of each of the cooling members in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, respectively. One of an interval and a thermal insulator is provided between the cooling members.

Abstract: A cooling device using a liquid coolant, including a heat receiving part separatably contactable to a target to be cooled detachably installable in an image forming apparatus, a heat releasing part to release heat from the liquid coolant, a circulation channel through which the liquid coolant is circulated between the heat receiving part and the heat releasing part, and a pump operatively connected to the circulation channel to convey the liquid coolant through the circulation channel. The circulation channel has a flexible part and a metal part continuous with the flexible part.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium; a conveyance stopping unit configured to stop conveyance of the recording medium; a heating unit having a heating plane and configured to heat a part of the recording medium, which part is laid over the heating plane; and a cooling unit configured to cool the part of the recording medium, whose conveyance has been stopped, by applying cooling air to the part of the recording medium from above.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus including: an image carrier; a latent image forming unit; a developing unit; a fixing unit; a toner cartridge; a battery in the toner cartridge; a temperature sensor in the toner cartridge driven by the battery; a first controller which causes the temperature sensor to measure an ambient temperature periodically in the toner cartridge and be supplied with power from the battery; a recording medium which is provided in the toner cartridge and records a result of measurement by the temperature sensor in timing controlled by the first controller; and a second controller which reads out information recorded in the recording medium, and changes an operating condition of the latent image forming unit, the developing unit and the fixing unit according to a state of preservation of the supply of toner, based on the information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of driving the same are provided in which, if a driving environment is determined to be a low temperature environment, a driving load of an image forming unit is decreased by repeating driving and stopping a driving motor under a high load driving condition to generate a torque higher than a torque generated under a normal warm-up driving condition; and a warm-up operation is performed by driving the driving motor under the normal warm-up driving condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing on which the first housing is mounted, a first roller, a second roller, a nipping pressure adjusting mechanism, an induction heating unit and a retaining mechanism. A first rotary shaft of the first roller is rotatably supported by the first housing in a state of being positionally immovable. A second rotary shaft of the second roller is rotatably supported by the first housing in a state of being positionally movable. The nipping pressure adjusting mechanism changes the posture of the second roller between a first posture that the second roller is pressingly contacted with the first roller with a first pressure, and a second posture that the second roller is pressingly contacted with the first roller with a second pressure lower than the first pressure. The relative positions between the second roller and the induction heating unit are retained.

Abstract: A group of printing conditions, which have at least one condition item in common except for environmental condition items concerning a temperature and humidity environment for printing, is selected from among a plurality of printing conditions. A list image, which represents a line-up of visible information concerning the temperature and humidity environment depending on the environmental condition items, and which is included in the printing conditions of the selected group, is generated and displayed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device including a developing roller to bear a developing agent to develop a latent image formed on an image bearing member, a cooling device to reduce an internal temperature of the image forming apparatus, a controller to calculate a travel distance of the developing roller to control the cooling device, and a memory unit to store the total travel distance of the developing roller. The controller calculates the total travel distance of the developing roller every Y minutes in the last X minutes, and a difference between the latest total travel distance of the developing roller and the total travel distance stored Z minutes ago by the memory unit to obtain the total travel distance during Z minutes and operate the cooling device for W minutes after image forming operation where the difference is equal to or greater than a threshold value M.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a latent-image forming unit configured to form a latent image on the image carrier; a developing unit configured to develop the latent image on the image carrier with a developer applied onto a developer carrier; a temperature detector configured to detect an internal temperature or an ambient temperature of the developing unit, the internal temperature and ambient temperature varying depending on a temperature of the developer carrier; and a control unit configured to control restriction on number of pages on which image formation is allowed to be performed continuously and cancellation of the restriction, based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector.

Abstract: The present invention prevents condensation on a pressure roller and excessive temperature rise of a non-paper-passage portion of a fixing unit by switching a blower unit that cools the fixing unit between a blowing mode in which the blower unit sends air to the non-paper-passage portion and an exhausting mode in which a fan of the blower unit is rotated reversely and the air in the fixing unit is exhausted out of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferer to apply a constant-current controlled bias to a transfer medium to form a transfer electric field, a constant-current source configured to apply an electrical current to the transferer, an electrical characteristic detector, an environment detector, a first corrector, a second corrector, and a third corrector. The electrical characteristic detector detects an electrical characteristic value corresponding to a resistance in a current path from the constant-current source to the transferer. The environment detector detects an environmental condition inside the image forming apparatus. The first corrector corrects the electrical current based on the electrical characteristic detection and a predetermined threshold. The second corrector corrects the electrical current based on the environment detection. The third corrector sets the threshold based on the environment detection.

Abstract: A cooling device including at least two cooling members to cool a recording medium passing thereover, a coolant circulation unit to circulate a coolant, and tubing that connects the coolant circulation unit to the cooling members and through which the coolant circulates. Each of the cooling members includes a heat-absorbing surface that directly contacts the recording medium or indirectly contacts the recording medium via a thermal transmission member, an internal channel provided within each of the cooling members through which the coolant circulates, and a channel inlet and outlet formed at downstream and upstream ends of each of the cooling members in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, respectively. One of an interval and a thermal insulator is provided between the cooling members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for performing job processing includes a power supplying unit configured to supply power to a heating unit, a cooling unit configured to cool an inside of an enclosure of the image forming apparatus, a power generating unit configured to generate power by heat dissipated from the heating unit, a power storage unit configured to store the power generated by the power generating unit, and a power supply control unit configured to, after driving the cooling unit by the power from one of the power supplying unit and the power generating unit, switch a power source of the cooling unit from one of the power supplying unit and the power storage unit to the power generating unit.

Abstract: A warm air generating apparatus includes: a blowing apparatus for generating an air flow in a predetermined direction; a heating member disposed on a flow path of the air flow for heating air; a temperature detection member that has a heat sensing portion and detects a temperature of the heating member; and a biasing member for applying a biasing force that causes the heat sensing portion to contact a part of the heating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of process cartridges and a pair of frames. Each of the plurality of process cartridges includes a photosensitive drum, a charger and a charger supporting wall. One of the pair of frames has a plurality of first openings such that air outside the pair of frames is sucked between the pair of frames through the first openings. The other of the pair of frames has a plurality of second openings such that air between the pair of frames is discharged outside the pair of frames through the second openings. The first openings are positioned on an opposite side of the charger supporting wall from the photosensitive drum. The second openings are positioned on the same side of the charger supporting wall as the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A liquid-cooling-type cooling device includes a circulatory path for coolant that cools a temperature rise portion; a heat absorbing unit that absorbs a heat from the temperature rise portion by the coolant; a heat radiating unit that radiate the heat from the coolant; a pump that circulates the coolant; and a plurality of liquid-contacting metal portions that comes into contact with the coolant, each of the liquid-contacting metal portions being made of a metal material. At least one of the liquid-contacting metal portions is grounded.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may includes: an apparatus body; a fixing device removably mounted to the apparatus body and including a first fixing member, a heat generation member which heats the first fixing member, a second fixing member forming a fixing nip between the first fixing member and the second fixing member, and a housing accommodating at least the heat generation member and the first fixing member and provided with a communication part communicating between inner and outer sides of the housing; a transfer member arranged upstream of the fixing device in a conveyance direction of a recording sheet, and to which developer is configured to be transferred; a sensor configured to detect the developer transferred to the transfer member; and a film arranged to cover the sensor between the communication part and the sensor.

Abstract: A cooling device to cool an apparatus includes a heat receiver to receive heat from a hot portion of the apparatus using a coolant while contacting the hot portion, a heat releaser to cool the heat-received coolant to release the heat from the hot portion to outside the apparatus, the heat releaser having a variable-speed fan of multiple operation speed modes including an off mode, a coolant circulation system through which the coolant is circulated between the heat receiver and the heat releaser, a variable-speed pump to move the coolant through the coolant circulation system, whose operation speed modes include an off mode and relate to a coolant flow rate of the pump, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature in the hot portion, and a controller to control the operation modes of the fan and the pump in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that creates an image and a liquid cooling unit. The liquid cooling unit includes a heat receiving disposed in contact with a temperature rising portion, in the image forming unit, in which a temperature rises due to an image forming operation by the image forming unit, a heat radiating unit that radiates heat of a cooling liquid, a flow passage forming member that allows the cooling liquid to circulate between the heat receiving unit and the heat radiating unit, and a conveying unit that conveys the cooling liquid through the flow passage forming member. The heat radiating unit includes a radiator, and the radiator is disposed at a downstream side of the conveying unit in a cooling liquid flow direction and at an upstream side of the heat receiving unit in the cooling liquid flow direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a photo conductor; a charging unit; a plurality of fans; an information acquiring unit acquiring at least any one of print process information, which is information on a print process, or apparatus information, which is information on the internal environment of the apparatus; a reference determining unit that determines whether the print process or the internal environment of the apparatus satisfies the reference by using the print process information or the apparatus information; and an operation control unit including a first control mode that operates and stops the fans and the fixing device when the reference determining unit determines that the reference is not satisfied, and a second control mode that is performed before the first control mode is performed and stops the fixing device while driving the fans, when the reference determining unit determines that the reference is satisfied.

Abstract: A disclosed cooling structure includes a casing including a bottom plate arranged in a bottom portion of the casing and having a through hole formed in the bottom plate; a heat source to be cooled accommodated in the casing; a suctioning unit configured to suction outer air from an outside of the casing to an inside of the casing via the through hole in the bottom plate; an open and close member including an outer air path for carrying the suctioned outer air and being capable of opening and closing relative to the casing; and an outer air applying unit configured to cool the heat source by the carried outer air received from the open and close member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport device that transports fluid inside a body of an image forming apparatus; a counting unit that counts a cumulative number of image forming operations; and a transport control unit that controls a start and a stop of operation of the transport device so as to keep the transport device stopped when an image forming operation is started, and to start the transport device when the cumulative number of image forming operations has become larger than or equal to a preset number.

Abstract: In a cooling device that includes a cooling roller that comprises a hollow tubular member and a cooling medium transport unit for transporting a cooling liquid to the inside of the cooling roller and contacts a sheet-like member to cool down the paper, a turbulence generating unit that generates turbulence in a cooling liquid is disposed near an inner wall of the outer tube.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a temperature detection unit that detects a current interior temperature based on a detection signal from a temperature sensor. A temperature change detection unit calculates a difference between the current interior temperature and an interior temperature detected in a last color misregistration correction processing as a temperature change amount. When the temperature change amount is equal to or higher than a threshold, a determination unit determines that a color misregistration correction operation needs to be executed. A mode setting unit determines whether a monochrome printing processing is currently carried out.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, an image forming portion for forming a toner image using an electrophotographic process, an air supply opening for fluid communication between an inside and an outside of the main assembly, and an air supply device for supplying ambient air into the main assembly through the air supply opening. In addition, an exhausting device discharges air from inside of the main assembly, and a mounting portion selectively mounts, to the air supply opening, one of a cooling device for taking the ambient air in and for decreasing a temperature of the air taken in, and a cover for partly blocking the air supply opening and forming an air passage portion. When the cooling device is mounted to the mounting portion, the air supply device supplies the cooled air into the main assembly, and when the cover is mounted to the mounting portion, the air supply device supplies the ambient air directly into the main assembly through the air passage portion of the cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is for transferring a toner image on an image carrier onto a transfer medium, and thermally fixing the toner image by a fixing device, and comprises a cleaner removing residual toner on the image carrier. The apparatus: acquires information relating to a distribution of a density of the residual toner at each position within a section on the image carrier at an end of an image forming job, the section extending from the transfer position to immediately before a cleaning position; determines, based on the information, whether or not the density of the residual toner at the transfer position exceeds a corresponding threshold density pertaining to occurrence of fusion of the residual toner; and causes, if determining negatively, the drive unit to stop when the image forming job is completed and the residual toner at the transfer position reaches a predetermined position within the section.

Abstract: In one example, a climate control system for a printer includes: an air flow path from an intake for receiving warmer, dirtier aft from a printing area of the printer to an exhaust for returning cooler, cleaner air to the printing area of the printer; a first heat exchanger in the flow path for exchanging heat between warmer air coming from the intake and cooler air going to the exhaust; and a second heat exchanger in the flow path for receiving warmer, dirtier air from the first heat exchanger and passing cooler, cleaner air to the first heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger is configured to cool the air to a predetermined dew point temperature corresponding to a desired level of a contaminant in the air.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a printing unit, a fixing device, a conveying roller, and a control unit. The printing unit is configured to form an image by transferring toner onto a sheet. The fixing device is configured to heat and fix the toner onto the sheet. The fixing device is disposed on the downstream side of the printing unit. The conveying roller is configured to convey the sheet from the fixing device. The conveying roller is disposed on the downstream side of the fixing device. The control unit is configured to control the sheet heated by the fixing device to pass through the conveying roller a plurality of times before the image is formed on the sheet by the printing unit.

Abstract: A development device includes a developing section to visualize a latent image formed on a latent image carrier with developer including toner and carrier. The development device has a developer supply opening and a developer collection opening, a circulation unit to transport the developer collected from the developer collection opening of the developing section to the developer supply opening of the developing section and including a developer container to store the developer collected from the developing section disposed upstream from the development section in a direction in which the developer is circulated, and a developer cooler to cool the developer contained in the developer container.

Abstract: A roller device includes a cylinder member. The cylinder member includes wall member having a plurality of channels that are disposed within the wall member. The channels circulate a fluid therein to uniformly regulate a temperature of the cylinder member.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image processing unit that executes an image process in accordance with an instruction by a user; an accumulating unit that accumulates electric energy consumed in a preparation process of the image processing unit for each user; and a control unit which, if the image processing unit is made usable by the preparation process and executes image processes in accordance with a plurality of instructions by a plurality of users, controls the accumulating unit to allot and accumulate the electric energy for each of the plurality of users.

Abstract: In a cooling device that includes a cooling roller that comprises a hollow tubular member and a cooling medium transport unit for transporting a cooling liquid to the inside of the cooling roller and contacts a sheet-like member to cool down the paper, a turbulence generating unit that generates turbulence in a cooling liquid is disposed near an inner wall of the outer tube.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an air-conditioning section to control at least one of temperature and humidity of air, a first passage to guide the air sent off by the air-conditioning section to a temperature-controlled portion in the image forming apparatus, an air-intake section to take in the air from outside of the image forming apparatus, and a second passage to guide the air taken in by the air-intake section to the temperature-controlled portion.

Abstract: A temperature sensor is provided on the outer side of a developing container in an area where toner is filled inside the developing container, so that both toner temperature in the developing container and temperature around a drum can be acquired, and hence the amount of discharge of toner and the air capacity of a fan can be adjusted optimally based on the acquired values.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a heat receiving unit disposed to contact a surface of a temperature-increasing part the temperature of which increases during an image forming process; a radiation unit transferring heat from a cooling liquid; a tube for circulating the cooling liquid between the heat receiving unit and the radiation unit in a liquid circulation direction; a conveying unit conveying the cooling liquid through the tube; a coupling having an internal flow path and including a first end to which a first part of the tube is connected and a second end to which a second part of the tube is connected; and an outlet for draining the cooling liquid from the tube. At least one of the first part of the tube and the second part of the tube extends to a position lower than the position of the coupling.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier configured to carry an electrostatic latent image thereon; a developing device to render the electrostatic latent image visible with a developer including toner and a carrier; a developer container to contain the developer collected from the developing device; a developer conveyance path through which the developer discharged from the developer container is conveyed to the developing device; a coolant conveyance path to convey a coolant; and a cooling device to cool the developer contained in the developer container when the coolant is contacted to an external surface of the developer container, in which the developer container and the coolant conveyance path are made of different materials and a thermal conductivity of the developer container is higher than that of the coolant conveyance path.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a cooling member including a circulation passage for liquid coolant, and a cooling surface being directly or indirectly made to contact with a recording material being conveyed to cool the recording material. The circulation passage includes multiple passage sections arranged crossing to a conveying direction of the recording material, and a folded passage section to guide the liquid coolant from one of the multiple passage sections to another one of the multiple passage sections while changing a flowing direction of the liquid coolant. The folded passage section is disposed outside of an image forming area of the recording material on the cooling surface of the cooling member.

Abstract: A cooling device including a heat pipe to cool a sheet, a radiator provided to an end of the heat pipe, and a duct accommodating the radiator and having a closably openable cover member. The cover member is openable to enable attachment and detachment of the heat pipe to and from the cooling device in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A cartridge for containing toner material used in an image-forming device according to one example embodiment includes a developer roll, two J-seals that provide interfaces with the developer roll at the ends thereof, and an air duct that conducts airflow across the interfaces to cool the developer roll and seals. The air duct is an unitary structure including an elongated hollow body and a pair of nozzles in fluid communication with the hollow body. One of the nozzles is disposed at a distal end of the developer roll near one J-seal, and the other of the nozzles is disposed at a proximal end of the developer roll near the second J-seal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cooling device that includes a cooling part that is movably provided between a first position and a second position different from the first position with respect to an image forming apparatus main body and cools a periphery thereof with a cooling medium to be supplied; a cooling medium supply part that is provided in the image forming apparatus main body and cools and supplies the cooling medium to the cooling part; and a connecting member that connects the cooling part to the cooling medium supply part to circulate the cooling medium between the cooling part and the cooling medium supply part; wherein the connecting member is configured to include a flexible member and spirally provided with a moving direction of the cooling part as an axis center.

Abstract: A printer applies an imaging material to form an image, withdraws vapors from the applied imaging material and treats the withdrawn vapors with a vapor treatment system. The printer heats untreated withdrawn vapors with heat from the vapor treatment system.

Abstract: A cooling device for an image forming apparatus includes a heat receiver disposed to contact a heated member; a heat releaser to release heat; a coolant circulation passage connecting the heat receiver and the heat releaser in which a coolant circulates between the heat receiver and the heat releaser; a pump configured to convey and circulate the coolant in the coolant circulation passage; a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of a part of the heated portion of the heated member at which a temperature rises; a cooling fan, included in the heat releaser, configured to change a thermal capacity released from the heat releaser based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and a controller to determine presence or absence of a leakage of the liquid or a pump failure by monitoring a control performed by the cooling fan and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: In order to form a circulating route of a liquid cooling medium for cooling a temperature rising part of an image forming apparatus, a liquid-cooling type cooling device includes a heat receiving section which causes the liquid cooling medium to absorb heat of the temperature rising part, a radiator which causes the heat of the liquid cooling medium to release, and a pump which circulates the liquid cooling medium. The heat receiving section includes a heat receiving main body in which a flowing route of the liquid cooling medium and a contacting surface for contacting the temperature rising part are formed, and a heat receiving main body covering part which covers outer surfaces other than the contacting surface of the heat receiving main body. The heat receiving main body covering part is formed of a material whose heat conductivity is lower than that of the heat receiving main body.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium; a fixing unit configured to fix the image onto the recording medium by applying heat and pressure; a re-transport unit configured to re-transport the recording medium which has passed through the fixing unit, to the image forming unit along a re-transport path; a cooling unit provided between the fixing unit and the image forming unit along the re-transport path and configured to cool the recording medium transported by the re-transport unit; a parameter signal output unit configured to output a signal corresponding to a parameter for controlling the cooling unit; and a controller configured to control the cooling unit according to the signal output from the parameter signal output unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that can prevent a winding jam of a sheet, which can be caused owing to curling of the sheet at the front end in the sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit to form a visible image on a printing medium using developer, a fixing device to fix the developer to the printing medium, and a heat plate placed between the developing unit and the fixing device such that heat generated from the fixing device is absorbed by the heat plate, and transmission of heat to the developing unit is restricted.