Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a device for forming a toner image on a sheet; a heater contacting and heating the toner image on the sheet; a detector for detecting a temperature of the heater a controller for controlling the heater to maintain the temperature of the heater at a target temperature based on an output of the detector; a selector for selecting a first mode continuously forming images on thin sheets, a second mode continuously forming images on thick sheets, and a third mode continuously forming images on the thin sheet and the thick sheet; and a setter for setting the target temperature based on the selected mode, wherein the target temperature in the second mode is higher than the target temperature in the first mode, and the target temperature in the third mode is higher than the target temperature in the second mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a controller that determines whether a first toner image to be firstly transferred to a transfer body has a portion that is not superimposed by a second toner image to be subsequently transferred to the transfer body so as to be superimposed on the first toner image to generate a determination result, and controls a transfer bias supplied to a transfer device that causes the second toner image to be transferred to the transfer body and an amount of toner to be adhered to form the second toner image, respectively, based on the determination result.

Abstract: To enable not only releasing pressurization by a pressurization mechanism for pressurizing a belt thereby preventing a deformation therein but also easily and securely releasing the pressurization mechanism held in the pressure release state, thereby facilitating the installation operation of an apparatus. A pressurization mechanism for pressurizing a belt is in a released state prior to the use of the main body of the apparatus. Prior to the initial use of the main body, the pressurization of the pressurizing mechanism for the belt is exerted in linkage with a user operation of placing a recording material in a feed tray.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a main body; a plurality of image forming units; a holding unit; and an engagement mechanism. Each of the plurality of image forming units has a developing portion. The holding unit holds the plurality of image forming units. The plurality of image forming units are aligned in the holding unit in a predetermined drawing direction. The holding unit is configured so as to be drawn out in the predetermined drawing direction from a storage position where the holding unit is stored in the main body. The holding unit sequentially reaches a plurality of different drawing positions while moving in the predetermined drawing direction. The plurality of image forming units are sequentially exposed to the outside while the holding unit sequentially reaches the plurality of drawing positions. The engagement mechanism is configured to engage the holding unit with the main body when the holding unit reaches each of the plurality of drawing positions.

Abstract: A developing device includes a toner particle-bearing roller that bears toner particles on its surface and develops a latent image borne by an image-bearing member with those toner particles, the toner particle-bearing roller has a projection portion disposed on its surface, the projection portion having a top surface having a flat portion, and a width of the top surface being equal to or more than a volume average particle diameter of the toner particles.

Abstract: A lubricant applicator rotatable at multiple different linear velocities, including a rotatable lubricant applying member to scrape a lubricant and to apply the lubricant to a surface of an image carrier rotatable at multiple different linear velocities. Any given linear velocity of the lubricant applying member satisfies a relation of n1/N1>n2/N2> . . . nx/Nx, where N1, N2, . . . Nx (N1<N2< . . . Nx) are the multiple different linear velocities of the image carrier, and n1, n2, . . . nx are multiple linear velocities of the lubricant applying member corresponding to the multiple linear velocities of the image carrier.

Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus which performs fixing control complying with sheet characteristics in consideration of the productivity of a printing process and the precision of fixing control, and a control method thereof. To accomplish this, upon receiving a print job, the image forming apparatus extracts a sheet type used in the print job, and determines whether one set value in fixing control can be used for the extracted sheet type. If one set value can be used for the extracted sheet type, the image forming apparatus decides a common set value. If one set value cannot be used for the extracted sheet type, the image forming apparatus decides a set value for each type. In accordance with the decided set value, the image forming apparatus executes a printing process.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image by adhering developer on an image carrier; a feeding member for feeding the developer to the developing member; and an interposing member that is interposed between the developing member and the feeding member during a period of when the developing device is not being used.

Abstract: A fixing device of the present invention includes: an external heating belt which is to contact with a surface of a fixing roller so as to heat up the fixing roller; and a cleaning member (a scraper and/or cleaning pad) which is to contact with the external heating belt. The cleaning pad which is impregnated with silicone oil is to contact with a surface of the external heating belt, thereby applying the silicone oil (release agent) to the surface of the external heating belt. This makes it possible to prevent generation of an offset.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a cartridge cabinet including a developer accommodating chamber configured to accommodate developer, and a supply opening that is provided in one wall surface and is configured to supply the developer from an inside of the developer accommodating chamber to an outside of the developer accommodating chamber, a rotational shaft that is rotatably supported in the cartridge cabinet, extends parallel to the one wall surface and extends through the inside of the developer accommodating chamber, an agitating blade that is supported by the rotational shaft and rotates with the rotational shaft to supply the developer toward the supply opening while agitating the developer, and an obstruction member that is supported by the rotational shaft and rotates with the rotational shaft following the agitating blade to obstruct the supply opening during rotation of the rotational shaft.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a rotatable endless film heats a sheet. A heat source is contacted and surrounded by the endless film to heat the endless film. A pressing member is disposed opposite the heat source. An air current generator generates an air current inside a loop formed by the endless film. The endless film and the pressing member are disposed to sandwich and feed the sheet forward as the sheet passes therebetween. The air current generator concentrates the air current on the endless film to heat the sheet at a given position.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; a plurality of developing devices each including a developing roller; a support member detachably supporting the plurality of developing devices; and a developing device move mechanism that moves each of the developing devices to a close position and a distant position. Each of the developing devices includes a cover member that is movable between a cover position and an exposure position. The image forming apparatus further includes a cover member move mechanism, which moves the cover member from the cover position to the exposure position in association with movement of the developing roller from the distant position to the close position, and which moves the cover member from the exposure position to the cover position in association with movement of the developing roller from the close position to the distant position.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes an image bearing member, a data providing unit, an image-forming unit, a detecting unit, a first calculating unit, a determining unit, and a second calculating unit. The image bearing member has a surface moving at a surface speed. The data providing unit provides pattern data indicative of a target test pattern to be formed on a target position of the surface in response to a test instruction. The image-forming unit forms an actual test pattern on an actual position of the surface in accordance with the pattern data provided from the data providing unit, and configure to form an image in response to an image-forming instruction. The detecting unit detects the actual position. The first calculating unit calculates a deviation of the actual position from the target position. The determining unit performs a first determination of whether the surface speed when the data providing unit receives the test instruction is stable or unstable.

Abstract: A developing device capable of preventing scattered developer from being discharged and of stably supplying a developer to a latent image carrier by preventing the developer from being discharged despite that the amount of developer within the developing device is not increased, and an image forming apparatus including the developing device. When the bulk of the developer existing in the vicinity of the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the supply conveyance path exceeds the height level of the developer discharge port, the developer that has reached the height level of the developer discharge port is discharged to the outside of the developing device by the developer discharge port and developer conveyance path serving as the developer discharge device.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a coil for generating magnetic flux; a rotatable heater, having an electroconductive layer which generates heat by the magnetic flux, for heating an image on a recording material, the heater being disposed inside the coil; a magnetic member; a detector, disposed in an area between the magnetic member and an area of the heater opposing the coil, for detecting a temperature of the heater; an electric wire electrically connected to the detector; and an interruptor, for interrupting electric power supply to the coil on the basis of an output of the detector supplied through the electric wire. The magnetic member includes an opening through which the wire passes.

Abstract: A developing unit provided in an image forming apparatus includes a regulating member that improves developer layer regulation performance. The developing unit is configured to feed developer to a photoconductor, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, to form an image. The regulating member of the developing unit includes a bending portion contacting an outer peripheral surface of a developing device provided in a frame of the developing unit. The width of the regulating member is variable to increase rearward from the bending portion. The regulating member may further include an extension portion extending from the bending portion. Sealing members may be attached to both ends of the frame of the developing unit so as to contact the respective ends of the bending portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to perform printing and an initializing process, a casing formed with an opening and accommodating the image forming unit, a cover configured to open and close the opening, a detecting unit configured to detect whether the cover is in an opened state or a closed state, a measuring unit configured to measure an opening degree of the cover in the opened state, and a controller configured to control an initializing process of the image forming unit according to the opening degree of the cover in the opened state, when the detecting unit detects that the cover is changed from the closed state to the open state and that the cover is returned to the closed state.

Abstract: A toner transferring mechanism is provided with: an agitating and transferring member disposed in a housing accommodating toner, and having a blade portion thereof formed in a spiral shape on a circumferential portion of a rotatable shaft portion; and a plurality of scraping members making contact with the agitating and transferring member, and then scraping toner adhering to the agitating and transferring member, the scraping members being arranged in an axial direction of the agitating and transferring member, wherein the scraping members are arranged so that the scraping members adjacent to each other form an interval which is approximate to a spiral pitch of the blade portion of the agitating and transferring member.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus which can prevent malfunction of the open/close control of a shutter due to erroneous detection of the toner on the transfer belt when the opening and closing of the shutter is detected from the output from an optical sensor. The separation/contact assembly for moving a cleaning member into and out of contact includes an arm rotationally supported on a pivot, an abutment part fixed to the body frame so as to limit the rotation of the arm and a spring for pressing the arm in the clockwise direction. The cleaning member is attached at the distal end of the arm. The cleaning member cleans the transfer belt surface when the shutter is closed, so that the cleaned transfer belt surface can be always detected when the shutter is open.

Abstract: A toner-collecting device includes a toner-collecting unit, a shaft member, and a guide member. The toner-collecting unit is configured to be detachably attachable. The shaft member is rotatably arranged in the toner-collecting unit. The guide member includes a sliding portion that allows the shaft member to slide while the shaft member is being inserted from one end to an opposite end of the toner-collecting unit.