Abstract: A microcomputer processes count data counted by a CPU counter, and accumulates it in a RAM. The microcomputer always accesses the count data accumulated in the RAM and compares it with preset count data. Based on the comparison result, the microcomputer controls the rotation speed of a drive motor for a transfer belt.

Abstract: A cleaning device of an image forming machine including a pair of arm members each having one end portion pivotable about a support shaft, a cleaning roller rotatably supported between front end portions of the arm members via a shaft, helical compression springs for urging the arm members so as to bring the cleaning roller into contact under pressure with the surface of a photoconductor drum, a drive gear of the photoconductor drum, and a driven gear of the cleaning roller in mesh with the drive gear. Each of the arm members is disposed axially outwardly of the photoconductor drum. The center of the support shaft of each of the arm members is either placed on an extension of a line of action passing the point of engagement between the drive gear and the driven gear, or placed on an extension of a straight line passing the point of engagement, the straight line being within an angular range of some angle to the line of action.

Abstract: An image forming device feeding one cut sheet consecutively from a feeding unit to a image forming unit where a printed image is formed on the cut sheet. During feeding, a uniform interval between a trailing edge of a preceding sheet and a leading edge of a subsequent sheet is maintained. By setting a nip area between a sheet supply roller and a separating pad as a reference position for separating one sheet from a stack of sheet in the feeding unit. Sheet leading edge sensors including a light projecting element and a light receiving element are positioned downstream from the reference position exactly a distance L0. When the leading edge of a subsequent sheet is detected by the leading edge sensors and found to be less than a prescribed interval from the trailing edge of the preceding sheet, the feed timing for the subsequent sheet is delayed a prescribed amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an electrifying member for electrifying the image bearing member; an image forming member for forming an image on the image bearing member electrified by the electrifying member; a conveying member for making a recording material, which has been conveyed from a recording material receiving portion held in waiting and waiting then conveying the image on the image bearing member to a transfer portion for transferring the image onto the recording material; and a control member controls a start timing of electrification by the electrifying member in accordance with a start timing of a conveyance of the recording material by the conveying member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus of an electrophotographic printer for developing an image on a photoreceptive drum includes a disc rotating independently of the photoreceptive drum at both sides of the photoreceptive drum and having at least one cam groove formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof. A developing unit includes a housing containing developer and a developing roller supported by both sidewalls of the housing and having a shaft contacting the outer circumferential surface of the disc. An elastic member is provided at a rear surface of the housing and presses the developing apparatus toward the photoreceptive drum. Thus, since the disc having at least one cam groove is provided on the outer circumferential surface and rotates independently of the photoreceptive drum, the developing roller can be detached from the photoreceptive drum at a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A close-assist device for assisting the closing of an openable and closeable member provided on an apparatus main body so as to be vertically openable and closeable at the time when the openable and closeable member is opened by an angle not less than a predetermined angle but less than 90 degrees with respect to the apparatus main body and maintained in the open state, the close-assist device including: a close-assist member provided on the openable and closeable member so as to be capable of dangling and rotating at the time when the openable and closeable member is opened; and a rotation restricting unit which, when the openable and closeable member is in the open state, restricts the rotation of the close-assist member in a direction in which it moves away from an opening/closing base portion of the openable and closeable member.

Abstract: An image formation controlling device controls, on the basis of the width of a recording sheet on which previous image formation has been effected and a detected temperature at the longitudinal end portions of the heater, the heat fixing operation in the next image forming operation, and having an end offset avoiding mode for inhibiting the image forming operation until the detected temperature drops below a preset reference temperature when the width of a recording sheet used in the next image forming operation is broader than the width of the recording sheet on which the previous image formation has been effected and the detected temperature is higher than the reference temperature. Also provided is a performance priority mode for executing the image forming operation without inhibiting the image forming operation during the end offset avoiding mode thereof and the end offset avoiding mode selectively changeable over.

Abstract: A two part cartridge having a photoconductor part (1) and a toner part (5) having no force biasing element on either part. The two parts fit together so that a developer roller (7) in the toner part contacts a photoconductor drum (3) in the other part. When the two parts are installed in a printer the cover (50), when closed, brings a spring (62) into contact with one side of the toner part while the frame (F) of the printer blocks movement away from the cover. An advantage of the two part cartridge is that the toner part can be replaced without replacing the photoconductor part. Members on the cartridge for force biasing are avoided and the need for training or skill to latch the parts together is avoided.

Abstract: A toner container is constructed to include a toner storing portion for accommodating toner, a supply opening adapted for guiding toner from the toner storing portion to a toner receiving portion connected to the toner storing portion, a removable sealing member sealing the supply openings, and two elastic members provided at two sides of the toner storing portion and adapted for pushing the toner storing portion away from the toner receiving portion upon disengagement of the toner storing portion from the toner receiving portion.

Abstract: A developing member for use in an image forming apparatus is constructed to include a developing member main body containing a developer for developing images, a sealing member sealing developer supply holes of the developing member main body, a grip member connected to one end of the sealing member for the gripping of the hand to pull the sealing member away from the developing member main body, positioning means provided at the grip member, and a position member fixedly provided in one end wall of the developing member main body and adapted for receiving the positioning means of the grip to secure the grip to the end wall of the developing member main body.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on a movable imaging surface, including: a reservoir for storing a supply of developer material; a first donor member and a second donor member, the first and second donor members both being arranged to receive toner particles from the reservoir and to deliver toner particles to the image surface at locations spaced apart from each other in the direction of movement of the imaging surface thereby to develop the latent image thereon; and system for moving the outer surface of first donor member at a first velocity; and system for moving the outer surface of second donor member at a second velocity; wherein the first velocity could be slightly different than the second velocity to reduce a ghosting print defect.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image forming portion for forming an image, a drive source for generating a driving force for driving the image forming portion, a drive gear for transmitting the driving force from the drive source, a drive shaft for transmitting the driving force to the image forming portion, a first gear and a second gear fitted to the drive shaft and meshing with the drive gear, and a biasing member engaged with the first gear and the second gear and capable of circumferentially biasing the two, wherein in a state in which the first gear and the second gear mesh with the drive gear, it is possible to change over the biasing member to a biasing state and a bias releasing state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for adjusting an interval of polling a peripheral device (e.g., printer) for status information, as based on the presence of a predetermined condition. In one embodiment of the present invention, short polling intervals are used to poll a peripheral device when a station (e.g., computer system) is not receiving adequate and/or reliable notification of interrupts/alerts that occur at the peripheral device. Long polling intervals are used to poll the peripheral device when the station is receiving adequate and/or reliable notification of interrupts that occur at the peripheral device.

Abstract: In a printer in a system comprising multiple printers connected to a LAN, the service technician executes certain diagnostic adjustment through the operation of keys on the operation unit. When this is done, the controller of the printer generates a script that describes that the same service as indicated via the key input by the service technician in this diagnostic adjustment episode should be executed. The generated script is sent to the other printers. Each printer that receives the script automatically executes diagnostic adjustment based on the description of the script. As a result, the same diagnostic adjustment tasks as those executed regarding the printer from which the script was received is performed on each printer that received the script.

Abstract: A toner cartridge with a toner stirring mechanism, which is well mixed with toner contained in a toner container, thereby blocking of the toner can be prevented and fluidity of the toner also can be improved by the movement of the toner stirring mechanism in the toner container, and stable toner flow to a developing device. Furthermore, the toner stirring mechanism further includes a stirring member having a grating shape and a pair of swing rods respectively connected to two sides through the connecting rods, wherein one of the swing rods can be driven via a camshaft of the transmission mechanism being driven through a force externally transmitted, by way of a motor disposed outside of the toner container.

Abstract: Toner exhaustion is sensed in cartridge (1) having a toner chamber (3), a rotation paddle (7) extending across the long dimension. Chamber (3) has a transparent window (21) at its bottom and a reflective surface (23) in chamber (3), also at the bottom. An optical emitter and receiver (31) periodically senses for returned light, which indicates toner low. Paddle (7) carries a wiper to clean window and reflective surface. This provides improved accuracy by a cost-effective system.

Abstract: In a fuser for xerographic printing, stripper fingers remove the print sheet from a fuser roll. Each stripper finger is a thin member which is urged against the fuser roll with a spring force caused by deformation of the stripper finger against the roll. Each stripper finger is mounted on a mount which is itself springably urged against a stop, so that the spring force of the stripper finger is largely independent of the spring force associated with the mount. The arrangement enables design latitude in choosing spring forces associated with the stripper finger and the mount, and also enables the stripper fingers to be moved away from damaging contact with a mis-stripped sheet.

Abstract: A developing device of the type using a developing liquid and applicable to an image forming apparatus includes a developing roller and a sweep roller. The developing roller is pressed against a photoconductive drum to thereby form a nip. The sweep roller is positioned downstream of the nip in the direction of rotation of the drum and pressed against the drum in such a manner as to sandwich a developed toner layer. The surface of the sweep roller moves at substantially the same speed as the surface of the drum. A bias voltage (250 V) close to the surface potential (100 V to 200 V) of the toner layer formed on the drum is applied to the sweep roller. The bias causes the sweep roller to attract stray excess toner present on the background of the drum after development, thereby preventing a toner image from being blurred.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for statistical compilation is presented. The statistical compilation circuit includes a multi-bank memory that stores a plurality of statistics, where a statistic component portion for each statistic is stored in each of the plurality of banks in the multi-bank memory. An arbitration block is operably coupled to receive at least one statistical update stream. Each statistical update stream includes a plurality of statistical updates, where each statistical update includes a statistic identifier and an update operand. The arbitration block schedules received statistical updates to produce a scheduled update stream. A control block operably coupled to the arbitration block and the multi-bank memory executes the updates included in the scheduled update stream. The control block retrieves the current value of one of the statistic component portions from one of the memory banks and combines the current value with the update operand of a corresponding statistical update.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes a first frame; a second frame connected with the first frame for rotation about a shaft; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided in the first frame; a developing member, provided in the second frame, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with a developer; and a development driving force receiving member for receiving a driving force for rotating the developing member from a main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the development driving force receiving member being disposed coaxial with the shaft.