Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus having a plurality of optical systems each simultaneously scanning two stations by one polygon mirror to minimize conveyance-directional color misregistration of an intermediate transferring belt. An electrophotographic color laser printer connected with a host computer is provided with a scanner unit common to first and second stations, a scanner unit common to third and fourth stations, and a registration-position detector for reading an image pattern formed on an intermediate transferring belt and detecting a registration position of an image of a laser beam. The plane phase of the polygon mirror in the first and second stations is controlled and central positions of image patterns by two laser beams are detected to correct the misregistration between these central positions.

Abstract: When a space holding member for holding a photosensitive drum and a developing roller in a spaced-apart state act on a process cartridge main body, the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are held in the spaced-apart state, and when the holding member is acting on a process cartridge, a storing medium provided in the process cartridge and the communication member of the storing medium are covered and hidden by the holding member. By the above-described construction, the spacing-apart of the developing roller and the protection of the storing medium can be effected by a member, and an improvement in usability and the curtailment of the number of parts can be achieved.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method for controlling the same. The image forming apparatus has a keyed sheet storage unit that has a key status of locked and unlocked states. The image forming apparatus can switch operational sequences of the keyed sheet storage unit in response to the key status of the keyed sheet storage unit to achieve ease of use and the enhancement of security level.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a fixing unit that applies heat energy to non-fused developer on a medium. The medium is advanced in a transport path and a heater supplies heat energy to the fixing unit when the medium passes the fixing unit. When a trailing end of the medium is a predetermined distance upstream of the fixing unit, a controller operates in a first mode in which the controller causes the heater to supply a first amount of heat energy to the fixing unit. When the trailing end of the medium is within a predetermined distance upstream of the fixing unit, the controller operates in a second mode in which the controller causes the heater to supply a second amount of heat energy to the fixing unit. The second amount of heat energy is smaller than the first amount of heat energy.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention has a heating member which is heated by induction heating, a pressing member which supplies a predetermined pressure to the heating member, and induction heating mechanisms which supply a predetermined magnetic field to the heating member. The induction heating mechanisms have a plurality of coils. By arranging the adjacent coils and adjacent coils to overlap, the temperature distribution in the length direction of the heating member can be made uniform.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a rotational velocity of an imaging drum during engagement with a transfer roll in an image producing device including: forming a nip to transfer an image from the imaging drum to media when the imaging drum is in engagement with the transfer roll; maintaining a substantially constant imaging drum rotational velocity mode during engagement with the transfer roll; sensing a lead edge of portion of the media prior to entering the nip; augmenting torque assist to increase the torque of the transfer roll when the media is in the nip for a defined period; and resuming the substantially constant imaging drum rotational velocity mode while a second portion of the media is in the nip.

Abstract: In a powder transport apparatus, powder is transported through a pipe having a powder transport member that exerts a force on the powder such that the powder is moved downstream in a transport direction. A part regulating the amount of the powder to be transported is provided in the pipe.

Abstract: Single-wire data communications with data storage memory units that may be coupled with a wirelessly energized power supply is enabled in electronic monitoring modules in customer replaceable units (CRUs) such as toner bottles in image forming devices. Communication between modularly designed office equipment and installed CRUs may include data transmission implemented by providing a single point of contact on, for example, a rotational axis at the closed end of a rotating CRU, or by placing a conductive patch, band ring on the periphery of such CRU such that a single-wire data transfer contact is effected with the CRU. A communications link is provided which is not adversely affected by dirt or other foreign objects and is not limited by necessary motion which must be imparted to the CRU for optimum operation in the modular equipment within which the CRU is installed, or other interference that may adversely affects a wireless communications link.

Abstract: A toner seal member which is maintainable in contact with a rotating member to seal a toner. The toner seal member has a non-woven fabric sheet on a support layer formed of an elastic member, and the non-woven fabric sheet has a fiber diameter of from 2 ?m to 10 ?m. This toner seal member can prevent fine toner from leaking via a photosensitive drum surface and can also prevent coarse powder toner from adhering to the photosensitive drum surface, and has sufficient toner sealing properties without damaging the functions of the photosensitive drum and image-forming performance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a process cartridge that includes a first protective member which is attached to one end in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge and holds a photoconductor drum 2a and a development roller 2b spacially, and a second protective member which is attached to a rotational shaft end of the photoconductor drum 2a and prevents rotation of the photoconductor drum 2a.

Abstract: There is provided a monitoring apparatus which is capable of efficiently notifying an external host of completion of installation of the monitoring apparatus for image forming apparatuses, and completion of operations carried out for the image forming apparatuses. The monitoring apparatus is connected to a management apparatus for communication therewith. The monitoring apparatus acquires maintenance information from the image forming apparatuses, and sends the acquired maintenance information to the management apparatus. The monitoring apparatus carries out one of management of completion of installation of the monitoring apparatus and central management of completion of operations carried out for the image forming apparatuses.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with an image forming part and a fixing part for fixing images on a recording medium measures, downstream of the fixing part in a transport path, speckles on a recording medium, and generates measured speckle data representing the measured speckles; stores measured speckle data with standard speckle data representing speckles on a recording medium that has not undergone a fixing process; further measures, upstream of the image forming part, measures speckles on a recording medium; and when the stored standard speckle data is the most analogous to speckles measured for the second time, applies corrections in order to compensate for the lengthening of the recording medium by a fixing process to document images formed thereon, and when the stored measured speckle data is the most analogous to speckles measured for the second time, does not perform the corrections in order to compensate for the lengthening.

Abstract: A surface treatment apparatus which can efficiently form fine depressions and protrusions on a sheet selected from an inkjet sheet, a thermosensitive recording sheet, a heat developing sheet, an electrophotographic sheet, and a silver halide photographic sheet, and an image-forming apparatus incorporating this surface treatment apparatus, are provided. For this purpose, a surface treatment apparatus incorporating a sheet heating unit which heats a sheet having at least a thermoplastic resin layer, and a sheet depression and protrusion-forming unit disposed on the downstream process side of the sheet heating unit which forms depressions and protrusions on the thermoplastic resin layer, is provided.

Abstract: A belt rotates and carries a plurality of images. A scale is provided along at least one side of entire of the belt. A sensor reads the scale on the belt to obtain scale information. An actual speed calculating unit calculates a speed of the belt from the scale information. A control unit provides a control to correct speed of the belt according to the speed calculated. The control unit includes a frequency-correcting unit that performs correction of only a frequency component that is fluctuating of low frequency that is smaller than a predetermined frequency that is developed due to a change in a speed of the belt, from among speed fluctuations of the belt to adjust the speed of the belt to a predetermined target speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus an image bearing member adapted to bear a toner image and having a first glossiness in a first direction and a second glossiness lower than said first glossiness, and an optical detection unit including a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit, wherein a light emitted by the light-emitting unit is reflected by the image bearing member and is received by the light-receiving means and an optical direction from the light-emitting means to the light-receiving means is substantially same as the first direction of the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, a transfer roller, and a toner charging brush, wherein the toner charging brush reciprocates in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum. In the image forming apparatus, when a number of rotations per a unit time of the image bearing member is assumed to be “a” and a number of times of reciprocation per unit time of the toner charging brush is assumed to be “b” assuming that R=b/a, R is set to be in a range of 1/25?R?3. However, R=m/n (m and n are integers of 5 or less) is excluded. Consequently, generation of a periodic attachment pattern appearing on the photosensitive drum is eliminated.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus which, in a sequential order for each of plural colors of a composite color image, charges plural photosensitive bodies, exposes electrostatic latent images on the plural photosensitive bodies, develops latent images on the photosensitive bodies into color images, and transfers the color images to sequentially form images of each of the plural colors one on another to form the composite color image and transcribing the composite color image onto a printing medium. The color image forming apparatus includes: plural charging units which perform the charging process for each of the plural colors; plural exposing units which perform the exposing process for each of the plural colors; plural developing units which perform the developing process for each of the plural colors; and plural transfer units which perform the transfer process for each of the plural colors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image forming portion for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information on an image bearing member, a developing portion, having a developer container for accommodating a developer containing a toner and a carrier, for developing the electrostatic latent image with the toner, and a toner density detecting portion for detecting a toner density in the developer container, a toner replenishment amount to the developer container being controlled in accordance with a result of detection by the toner density detecting portion, wherein a toner replenishment amount target value used for controlling the toner replenishment is controlled to fall within a restriction range, and the restriction range can be changed according to the image information.

Abstract: In an operating unit for an electrophotographic printing or copying system, the operating unit has a graphical user interface with input and/or output fields, with help of which an operation of the electrophotographic printing or copying system occurs. A user account is selectable from at least two preset user accounts. A setting of at least one input and/or output field of the graphical user interface is adjustable for at least one user account.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus that has a fuser roll/belt in pressure contact with a pressure roll that forms a nip, a meter roll that receives a release agent, a donor roll in press contact with the meter roll and is disposed between the meter roll and the fuser roll/belt to transport the release agent from the meter roll to the fuser roll/belt, a metering blade disposed adjacent to the meter roll that regulates an amount of release agent on the surface of the meter roll, and a smoothing/camouflaging device in contact with a surface of one or more of the fuser roll/belt, the meter roll and the donor roll, that smoothes/camouflages a non-uniform application of the release agent.