Abstract: A system and method for controlling the fuser assembly of an electrophotographic imaging device, including determining a resistance of the fuser heater at a predetermined temperature that is less than a fusing temperature for performing a fusing operation; calculating a set point heater resistance based on the determined heater resistance, the set point heater resistance being a resistance of the fuser heater at a predetermined set point temperature; reading a line voltage to the electrophotographic imaging device at a first time; calculating heater power based on the line voltage reading and the calculated set point heater resistance; and controlling a speed of a fusing operation based on the calculated heater power.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movement member arranged to move a cartridge and is movable between a first position for disposing the cartridge at a position where image formation is possible and a second position where the cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the movement member. At least one coupling provided in the cartridge is, when the movement member is at the first position, moved to a drive position where the coupling is arranged to engage with a drive member to rotate at least one rotating member, and while the movement member is being moved from the second to first positions, the at least one coupling is at an inclined position.

Abstract: A development device includes: a developer carrier including a magnet roller and a sleeve around the magnet roller; and a restriction member provided opposed to the sleeve surface. When a region on the surface opposed to the restriction member is defined as a first region and regions adjacent to the first region are defined as second and third regions, a magnetic flux density is largest in the second region. When a position where the density is largest in the second region is defined as a reference position, a position where the density is a predetermined value in the second region is defined as a downstream position, and a position where the density is the predetermined value in the third region is defined as an upstream position, the width between the reference position and the upstream position is longer than the width between the reference position and the downstream position.

Abstract: A photo conductor cleaning device removes substances adhered to a surface of a photo conductor which moves around the axis of rotation. The photo conductor cleaning device is equipped with a device main body, a tip blade, and a flexible supporting sheet metal plate which holds the tip blade and makes the tip blade contact with the photo conductor. The supporting sheet metal plate is fixed to the device main body by two fixing portions which are places at different locations, as seen from a cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the photo conductor. The supporting sheet metal plate is supported at the both ends by the two fixing portions support.

Abstract: A solid lubricant is supplied to a surface of an image carrier of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The solid lubricant contains a fatty acid metal salt and polypropylene, and the polypropylene has an acid value of 1 mg KOH/g or more. The solid lubricant is a solid substance of a melt mold containing the fatty acid metal salt and the polypropylene.

Abstract: A container for powder detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus body includes a discharge channel and a wall member. The discharge channel has an upper end. Powder is discharged through the discharge channel. The wall member is disposed such that a gap is formed between the wall member and the upper end of the discharge channel. A transport part that transports the powder toward the discharge channel is provided in the container.

Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a drive-force receiving member includes: a first cylindrical part having a gear part transmitting drive force to a developing roller; a second cylindrical part disposed radially inward of the first cylindrical part and in contact with a support part; and a receiving part receiving drive force from outside of the developing cartridge. The receiving part is disposed outward of the first and second cylindrical parts in an axial direction in which a rotational axis extends. The receiving part has an internal space in communication with a gap between the first and second cylindrical parts. The receiving part is disposed to overlap the gap between the first and second cylindrical parts when the receiving part is viewed in the axial direction. The receiving part has an outward end in the axial direction, at least part of the outward end of the receiving part being closed.

Abstract: A connection mechanism includes a connecting portion including a rotation arm rotatable around a rotation shaft, an urging unit configured to urge the rotation arm, and an engagement pin provided on the rotation arm; and a connected portion having an engagement groove formed in a tapered shape in an urging direction of the urging unit so as to allow entering of the engagement pin and holding of the engagement pin by the urging force of the urging unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit configured to form an image on a recording material, a conveyance unit configured to convey a recording material, an irradiation unit configured to emit light onto the recording material being conveyed by the conveyance unit, an image capturing unit configured to capture the light emitted by the irradiation unit and reflected from the recording material as a surface image of the recording material, and a control unit configured to control an image forming condition of the image formation unit based on the surface image of the recording material acquired by the image capturing unit, wherein the control unit controls the image forming condition based on a plurality of surface images of the recording material having different resolutions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body, an intermediate transfer belt, a holding member, a primary transfer member, a secondary transfer member, and a biasing member. The intermediate transfer belt comes into contact with and separate from the photosensitive body. The holding member holds the intermediate transfer belt. The biasing member biases the primary transfer member toward a side of the photosensitive body. The holding member is movable between a first holding position to make the intermediate transfer belt come into contact with the photosensitive body and a second holding position to make the intermediate transfer belt separate from the photosensitive body. The primary transfer member moves toward a side remote from the photosensitive body against biasing force of the biasing member in accordance with a movement of the holding member from the first holding position to the second holding position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a heater disposed inside the endless belt and being elongated in a longitudinal direction, the heater having a first end portion in the longitudinal direction and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion in the longitudinal direction, a resin frame having a recess portion opening toward an inner side of the endless belt, and a metal frame inserted into the recess portion of the resin frame. The metal frame has a first wall having a through-hole, and a second wall extending in a direction from the first end portion of the heater toward a second end portion of the heater, the second wall being disposed between the resin frame and the heater.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a collection container for collecting toner discharged from an image forming station, the collection container being movable between a mount position in which the collection container is mounted in the apparatus and a removable position in which the collection container is removable from the apparatus; and a door provided on the apparatus to permit access into the apparatus. A track of the collection container when the collection container is moved from the mount position to the removable position overlaps a track of the door when the door is opened and closed, and when the door is in its open position, the collection container is incapable of being removed from the main assembly, and when the door is in its closed position, the collection container is removable from the main assembly.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a planar heating element and a thermal fuse. The planar heating element is configured to heat a fixing member that fixes a toner image to a recording medium. The thermal fuse includes a fuse element configured to be in contact with the heating element, and an elastic member configured to support the fuse element on a support body by a tension at which a fusing temperature of the fuse element is lower than a rated fusing temperature.

Abstract: A sealing member for sealing between an accommodating container for accommodating a developer and a member to be assembled to the accommodating container includes a seal forming portion formed of an elastomer resin material or a rubber material and configured to be closely contacted to each of the accommodating container and the member; and a supporting portion for supporting the seal forming portion, wherein the supporting portion is formed of a material harder than the material of the seal forming portion and is configured to be fixed to the accommodating container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an imaging device, a transferrer, a rotator, a rotation position sensor, an adhesion amount sensor, a power supply, and a controller. The controller executes a construction process to construct output pattern data to change a voltage output from the power supply, according to a result obtained by detecting a toner adhesion amount of a toner image for density unevenness detection and a detection result from the rotation position sensor obtained when the toner image is formed, and an output change process to execute a predetermined process while changing the voltage according to the detection result and the output pattern data. The controller executes a determination process to determine propriety of an output range of the voltage output from the power supply by the output change process and a data process for a shift to shift the range when a determination result is inappropriate.

Abstract: A waste toner storing container includes a container main body, a first conveyance portion, and a second conveyance portion. The container main body includes a plurality of reception ports, and stores the waste toner carried in from the reception ports. The first conveyance portion, by being rotated when an image forming operation is performed, conveys the waste toner toward one side in a rotation axis line direction. The second conveyance portion, by being rotated when the image forming operation is performed, conveys the waste toner toward another side that is opposite to the one side. The second conveyance portion does not have a conveyance force with regard to waste toner stored in a side-end storage portion, the side-end storage portion corresponding to a side-end reception port among the plurality of reception ports that is located closest to the one side in the rotation axis line direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a toner image forming device; an intermediate transferor; a primary transfer power source; a secondary transfer nip forming device; and a secondary transfer power source to output a secondary transfer bias. One of two peak values of the secondary transfer bias is a transfer peak value to provide a greater transfer-directional force to move toner from the intermediate transferor toward the recording medium in the secondary transfer nip. An absolute value of the transfer peak value is greater than an absolute value of the primary transfer bias.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes two or more photoconductors, an image carrier, first and second transfer units, first and second measuring units, and a determining unit. The first measuring unit measures density of a first test image formed by using a toner of a first color and transferred from the image carrier to a medium. The second measuring unit measures density of a toner on a topmost layer of a second test image formed by superposing plural toners of different colors and transferred from the image carrier to the medium. The determining unit determines whether an appropriate value of the second transfer voltage has increased or decreased over time from a currently applied second transfer voltage, in accordance with a change in the density measured by the first measuring unit during a certain period and a change in the density measured by the second measuring unit during the certain period.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a first thermoelectric converter that converts thermal energy dissipated from a heat source into electrical energy, a second thermoelectric converter provided on a side of a low-temperature portion of the first thermoelectric converter and that converts electrical energy into thermal energy, and a power supply controller that controls supply of power to the second thermoelectric converter such that the low-temperature portion of the first thermoelectric converter is cooled or heated.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container for storing developer containing carrier and toner, the developer container including a first compartment and a second compartment in which the developer is stirred and fed, a developing roller, and a sensor including a coil. A pair of communication portion is disposed on both ends in a longitudinal direction of the compartments. In addition, a gap is formed between the first compartment and the second compartment, and a part of the first compartment adjacent to the gap is a cylindrical portion through which the developer passes. A flat cable as a coil passes through the gap and is wound around the cylindrical portion so as to form a winding by overlapping both end portions of the flat cable in a state where terminals of wires are shifted by one pitch.