Abstract: A toner includes toner particles. Each of the toner particles includes a composite core and a shell layer covering a surface of the composite core. Each of the composite cores is a composite of a toner core and foamable particles provided on a surface of the toner core. An amount of the foamable particles is at least 0.3% by mass relative to mass of the toner cores. Each of the foamable particles includes a base particle and a coat layer covering a surface of the base particle. The base particles are non-foamable. The coat layers include a foamable group. The foamable group is bonded to the surfaces of the base particles through a bond including a bond represented by formula “—O—Si—”.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an openable-closable member, an image carrier, a cover sheet, and a cover moving mechanism. The openable-closable member is arranged in an open position where it keeps a recording medium conveying passage open and in a closed position where it keeps the recording medium conveying passage closed. The cover sheet is reciprocatable between a protection position where it covers the recording medium conveying passage side of the image carrier and a retracted position where it is retracted from the recording medium conveying passage. The cover moving mechanism moves the cover sheet to the retracted position or to the protection position by opening and closing the openable-closable member. Drawing out the cover sheet in the protection position to the recording medium conveying passage side causes the cover sheet to be arranged in a recording medium removal position.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic device that includes an update-processing unit that updates a control program for the device based on an update program that is recorded on a recording medium. The electronic device includes a USB interface and an update-control unit. Devices can be connected to the USB interface. The update-control unit determines whether or not a device is connected to the USB interface when the power is turned ON, and when a device is connected, waits when it is not possible to immediately determine whether or not that devices is the recording medium.

Abstract: A destaticizing device has a destaticizing member, a holding member, and a body portion. The destaticizing member has a plurality of destaticizing needless. The holding member holds the destaticizing member. The body portion has the holding member removably attached to it. The destaticizing member has attachment holes for attachment to the holding member. The holding member has a plurality of bosses inserted in the attachment holes respectively and an engaging portion in a snap-fit shape for attachment to the body portion. The body portion has an engaged portion with which the engaging portion is engaged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of improving convenience for a user is provided. This image forming apparatus includes: a non-volatile storage portion that stores beforehand each snapshot picked out from a plurality of snapshots which are obtained by dividing an image when firmware for executing a plurality of kinds of jobs is deployed; a priority storage portion that stores priorities when putting the plurality of kinds of jobs into an executable state; an operation portion that accepts a setting change of the priority to be stored into the priority storage portion; and a volatile storage portion that at a power input time, based on the priorities stored in the priority storage portion, acquires and deploys a snapshot necessary for execution of each job in an order of a highest-priority job to a lowest-priority job, thereby putting first the job having the highest priority into the executable state.

Abstract: A differential transformer type magnetic sensor is disclosed. The drive coil includes a planar coil arranged on a substrate. The first differential coil includes a planar coil arranged on the substrate. The second differential coil includes a planar coil arranged on the substrate and connected to the first differential coil. The first selector unit is used for a zero adjustment of a differential transformer. The first differential coil includes a plurality of first branch lines formed by branching a wire material forming the outermost turn of the first differential coil. The plurality of first branch lines are so arranged that the amount of magnetic fluxes passing along the plurality of respective first branch lines differ when the drive coil is driven. The first selector unit is capable of selecting any one of the plurality of first branch lines and arranged on the substrate.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a document table, an image reading portion, a cover member, a reading control portion, and a document determination portion. On a color reference surface of the cover member which opposes to a document table, a partial region is provided which has a predetermined density different from a density of the color reference surface. The reading control portion reads image data from the color reference surface and the partial region of the cover member by the image reading portion. When a density difference between a density of the color reference surface and a density of the partial region on the image data read by the reading control portion is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the document determination portion determines that the document placed on the document placement surface is a book document.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a high-speed duplex-printing mode execution unit, a print request unit, an output processing unit, a request control unit, and a request invalidation unit. The high-speed duplex-printing mode execution unit executes a high-speed duplex-printing mode in which image formation is sequentially performed on first sides from a leading sheet, and then image formation is performed on a second side of at least the leading sheet. The print request unit issues simplex-printing requests. The output processing unit receives the requests, performs an output process, and causes image formation to be performed. The request control unit causes the print request unit to issue simplex-printing requests using, as a trigger, either input of each duplex-printing request or completion of the output process. The request invalidation unit maintains a trigger based on the output process completion as invalid.

Abstract: A driving force transmission device includes a first driving member, a second driving member, a moving member and a connection drive section. The connection drive section separates, in conjunction with movement of the moving member in the first direction, the first driving member and the second driving member respectively from a first rotating member and a second rotating member in such a manner as to cause a time difference between a separating operation for separating the first driving member from the first rotating member and a separating operation for separating the second driving member from the second rotating member.