Abstract: A power supply device includes a voltage output unit configured to output a DC voltage corresponding to a control signal from a first controller and an output evaluator configured to perform a judgment process of judging whether or not the DC voltage is a voltage corresponding to a set value received from the fist controller, and to output a result of the judgment to the first controller. The output evaluator includes a storage for storing correspondence information which shows a correspondence relationship between the set value and a voltage value of the DC voltage outputted from the voltage output unit. The output evaluator performs the judgment process by outputting the correspondence information to the first controller, and receiving a set value determined on the basis of the correspondence information from the first controller.

Abstract: A developing roller configured to carry developer and extending in an axial direction includes: a first rotation shaft; a second rotation shaft; a rubber body portion; a first cylindrical rubber portion; and a second cylindrical rubber portion. The body portion has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in the axial direction. The first cylindrical rubber portion is disposed on the first side. The first rotation shaft is configured to be fitted with the first cylindrical rubber portion. The second cylindrical rubber portion is disposed on the second side. The second rotation shaft is configured to be fitted with the second cylindrical rubber portion. The rubber body portion is configured to be deformable more than the first cylindrical rubber portion and the second cylindrical rubber portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an intermediate transfer member to which an image on an image bearing member is primarily transferred. The image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer member is secondarily transferred to a recording medium. The velocity at which the recording medium is conveyed is switched to a velocity different from the image forming velocity before the recording medium is conveyed to the transfer position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a plurality of cartridges each extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a vertical direction; and a supporting member configured to detachably support the plurality of cartridges such that the cartridges are arrayed in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction and the first direction. The supporting member is movable between an inner position disposed within the main casing and an outer position disposed outside of the main casing. The supporting member includes: a first side plate; a second side plate positioned opposite to and spaced away from the first side plate in the first direction; and a prescribed number of beam plate connecting between the first side plate and the second side plate, the prescribed number being in a range of from one to not more than a number of the cartridges.

Abstract: A detecting system for detecting a developer remainder in a developer container accommodating a developer to be used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member. The detecting system includes first, second and third electrode members provided in the developer container, an AC voltage source for applying an AC voltage to the third electrode member, a first electrostatic capacity detector for detecting a first electrostatic capacity between the first electrode member and the third electrode member, and a second electrostatic capacity detector for detecting a second electrostatic capacity between the second electrode member and the third electrode member. In addition, a developer remainder detector corrects the first electrostatic capacity on the basis of the second electrostatic capacity and detects a developer remainder of the developer container from a result of correction of the first electrostatic capacity.

Abstract: A high voltage power supply including a first high voltage output unit that outputs a high voltage having a predetermined polarity, and including second and third high voltage output units that output a high voltage having a polarity opposite to the predetermined polarity. Rectification units that are connected to the first high voltage output unit separate a current path to the second high voltage output unit from a current path to the third high voltage output unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt configured to rotate about a specified rotation axis, and an oblique motion restraint member provided at an outer side of the fixing belt in a direction of the rotation axis and configured to restrain oblique motion of the fixing belt. The oblique motion restraint member includes a contact portion provided to make contact with an end surface of the fixing belt and a breakage-preventing portion provided radially inward of the contact portion and more outward in the direction of the rotation axis than the contact portion. The contact portion bulges in an arcuate cross-sectional shape toward an inner side in the direction of the rotation axis.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developer storage portion; a developer bearing member; a toner replenishing device that replenishes toner to the developer storage portion; a power supply that supplies an AC voltage or a voltage in which a DC voltage and an AC voltage are superimposed to the developer bearing member at least during an image forming period; and a controller that performs control such that a scattering toner discharge control mode in which the DC voltage only is applied to the developer bearing member in a non-image forming period so as to generate force such that normally charged toner moves from the developer bearing member to the image bearing member so that the toner is discharged from the developer bearing member to the image bearing member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a waste toner collecting container used in an image forming device for collecting waste toner and a process unit having the waste toner collecting container. An assembly of a development unit and the photoreceptor unit is fixedly connected to the waste toner collecting container. The development unit is configured to supply toner to a photoreceptor in the photoreceptor unit. The photoreceptor unit is configured to form a toner image on an outer surface of the photoreceptor, and to have a cleaning component used for removing the waste toner remaining on the outer surface of the photoreceptor after the toner image is transferred to a recording medium. A waste toner discharging outlet is disposed on a top wall of the waste toner collecting container, far away from the photoreceptor, and is disposed at an end of the top wall along an axial direction of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include arrangement of a process unit, a fixing unit, and a discharge tray. In one example, the process unit, the fixing unit and the discharge tray may be arranged in such an order above a feed tray. The image forming apparatus may further include an exposure unit disposed at a position distinct from, in a sheet conveying direction, a position where the process unit is located. Additionally or alternatively, the process unit may include a developing unit. The developing unit may include a developing agent storage that extends beyond a photosensitive drum of the process unit in a direction opposite to a direction in which developing agent is conveyed from the storage.

Abstract: A shutter for use in a toner cartridge of an imaging device according to one example embodiment includes a toner path. The toner path includes an entrance opening positioned to receive toner and an exit opening positioned to exit toner from the toner path. An air duct through the shutter is separated from the toner path. The air duct has a first opening positioned next to the exit opening of the toner path. The air duct has a second opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable transfer member rotatably driven while carrying a toner image thereon; a rotary transfer member to form a transfer nip for transferring the toner image to a recording medium; a housing rotatable about a first rotation center together with the rotary transfer member and switching between a closed state and an open state by the rotation about the first rotation center; a guide member to guide the recording medium conveyed through a conveyance path toward upstream in the direction of rotation of the rotatable transfer member than the transfer nip; a support frame to support the rotatable transfer member; a biasing member to bias the guide member; and a receiving part, disposed on the support frame, configured to contact the guide member biased by the biasing member and position the guide member in the closed state of the housing.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a first rotary member that comes into contact with the unfixed toner image, a second rotary member that is heated by the first rotary member and forms the nip portion together with the first rotary member, and an air supply unit that supplies air to the second rotary member. The fixing apparatus is configured to execute a first mode of warming the first rotary member and the second rotary member as a warm-up while rotating the first rotary member and the second rotary member before the fixing process and supplying air with the air supply unit in the fixing process, and a second mode of performing the warm-up for a longer period than in the first mode and supplying air with the air supply unit in the fixing process.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat generator including a first non-conductive portion having a first width in an axial direction of the heat generator and a second non-conductive portion spaced apart from the first non-conductive portion in a circumferential direction of the heat generator and having a second width in the axial direction of the heat generator that is smaller than the first width of the first non-conductive portion. The heat generator is movable between a first heating position where the first non-conductive portion is disposed opposite an exciting coil unit and a second heating position where the second non-conductive portion is disposed opposite the exciting coil unit.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer storage container, a remaining amount detecting portion, an agitating portion, a contact member, and a support portion. The agitating portion is configured to be rotated to thereby agitate the developer. The contact member is attached to the agitating portion, and is configured to, when the agitating portion is rotated in a predetermined first rotational direction, move in the first rotational direction and make contact with a sensing surface. The support portion is attached to the agitating portion, and is configured to, when the agitating portion is rotated in the first rotational direction, support the contact member in a first position where the contact member can make contact with the sensing surface, and, when the agitating portion is rotated in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, support the contact member in a second position distant from the sensing surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple image bearing members, toner image forming devices, and a transfer unit. The transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer belt entrained about a plurality of rollers and onto which toner images are transferred from the image bearing members, a reference member to position the transfer unit in place, a frame to hold the plurality of rollers a certain distance from the reference member, and a moving device including a holding member to hold movably one of the rollers relative to the frame to change the position of the roller between a multiple color mode for forming a multiple color image and a single color mode for forming a single color image so that the intermediate transfer belt contacts and separates from the image bearing member. As the holding member contacts the reference member, the intermediate transfer belt contacts the image bearing members.

Abstract: An operation panel support mechanism according to the present disclosure includes a first support member, a second support member, a swing mechanism, and a movement mechanism. The first support member is fixed to an apparatus main body. The second support member is fixed to an operation panel. The swing mechanism supports the second support member swingably up and down, and holds the second support member at an arbitrary angle. The movement mechanism supports the second support member movably up and down in a translation manner with respect to the first support member, and holds the second support member at an arbitrary height.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image borne on a sheet-like recording medium onto the sheet-like recording medium, including: a fixing member relatively moving in a first direction with respect to the sheet-like recording medium, and having a surface in contact with the toner image during a fixing operation; a surface-information-detecting device for obtaining surface information of the fixing member; a surface-condition-changing device arranged to abut on and separate from the fixing member, and abrading the surface of the fixing member in contact with the fixing member; and a surface-condition-change controller for controlling an abutting and separating of the surface-condition-changing device with respect to the fixing member according to a detection result of the surface-information-detecting device.

Abstract: A developer cartridge is described. The developer cartridge detachably mountable on a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable to a drawn-out position and a mounted position with respect to an image forming apparatus body may include a casing; a developer carrier rotatably supported on one end portion of the casing for carrying a developer; a pair of upright portions arranged on another end portion of the casing at an interval from each other in the axial direction of the developer carrier to extend from another end portion of the casing in a detaching direction for the developer cartridge; and an elastically deformable coupling portion extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier for coupling the upright portions with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, endless belt, photosensitive drums, setting unit, contacting/separating mechanism, transmitting mechanism, and coupling members. The photosensitive drums are disposed in confrontation with the endless belt and are arranged in a first direction. Each photosensitive drum has an axis extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The setting unit sets the image forming apparatus to a monochrome mode or color mode. The contacting/separating mechanism controls at least one photosensitive drum to contact or separate from the endless in accordance with the set mode. The transmitting mechanism selectively transmits drive power to photosensitive drums. Each coupling member is selectively coupled to the corresponding photosensitive drum and has a coupling axis extending in the second direction.