Abstract: An example image forming apparatus includes a power device, a photosensitive drum, a transfer device to remove remaining toner based on a cleaning bias voltage, an optical sensor to detect remaining toner, and a processor to adjust the cleaning bias voltage based on a set offset bias voltage. The processor may change a surface potential of the photosensitive drum to a voltage of a set pattern using the power device, acquire a size ratio of a periodic component based on a frequency of a signal detected from the remaining toner using the optical sensor, and, based on the acquired size ratio of the periodic component being greater than or equal to a set size ratio, adjust the cleaning bias voltage based on an offset bias voltage corresponding to the size ratio of the periodic component and provide the adjusted cleaning bias voltage to the transfer device to remove remaining toner.

Abstract: A conductive roller includes a base including an outer surface along and about an axial line thereof, and a surface layer arranged on the outer surface of the base. The surface layer includes particles. The ten-point height of irregularities Rz of the outer surface of the base is greater than or equal to 6.0 micrometers and less than or equal to 8.0 micrometers. A ten-point height of irregularities Rz of an outer surface of the surface layer is greater than or equal to 5.5 micrometers and less than or equal to 8.5 micrometers. The base included in the conductive roller preferably includes a core member and a conductive elastic layer arranged between the core member and the surface layer. The surface layer preferably includes a conductive portion including a resin material and a conductive agent.

Abstract: Method of heating control includes preheating a heater to a first target temperature when an image forming device is powered on, is woken up from sleep, or receives a task to be processed; determining a voltage parameter of the heater or a characteristic of temperature change of a heating process of the heater, under the current environment of the power supply, according to a prior-preheating temperature, a post-preheating temperature, and a time length of the preheating; and according to the voltage parameter or the characteristic of temperature change under the current environment of the power supply, determining a heating start time of a second heating for the preheated heater and triggering the second heating at the heating start time, to allow a temperature of the heater to reach a second target temperature within a set time before an image to-be fixed arrives at the fixing assembly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer body that rotates and transfers a transferred image to a target transfer body at a transfer position, plural image holding members that rotate together with the transfer body at different positions along a rotation direction of the transfer body while outer peripheral surfaces of the image holding members come into contact with the transfer body, the image holding members on which a charge erasing operation is sequentially performed after images held on the outer peripheral surfaces sequentially transferred to the transfer body, and in which the charge erasing operation on all the image holding members has been ended, and then rotations of all the image holding members are stopped, a first charge erasing unit that erases charges of an outer peripheral surface of at least one image holding member other than a most downstream image holding member disposed on a most downstream side of the rotation direction with respect to the transfer position, among the plural ima

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, to which a cartridge including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer is detachably mountable, includes an image bearing member, an exposure unit configured to expose the image bearing member to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member, a light receiving sensor provided in the cartridge and configured to receive the light emitted from the exposure unit, and a controller configured to detect vibration of the cartridge from a light reception value of the light received by the light receiving sensor. In a case in which the cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus, the light receiving sensor is removed from the image forming apparatus together with the cartridge.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which, while image formation is prevented from being performed, scattered toner that has dropped from a filter and adhered to an outer peripheral surface of a developer carrying member is recovered. A fixed magnet of the developer carrying member has a first pole that is arranged to face the filter, and a second pole and a third pole on a downstream side relative to the first pole. The first pole and the second pole have polarities opposite to each other, and the second pole and the third pole have a same polarity. A length of a gap between the developing container and an area where the developing sleeve faces the second pole among areas of the developing sleeve is smaller than a length between the developing sleeve and the filter.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: an image formation section to form an image with a developer; an entire area printing rate calculator configured to calculate an entire area printing rate, which is, a printing rate of an entirety of an image formation area; a divided area printing rate calculator configured to calculate each divided area printing rate, which is, a printing rate of each of plural divided areas, divided in a main scanning direction, of the image formation area; and a deteriorated developer discarding operation execution section configured, when the entire area printing rate is equal to or lower than an entire area printing rate threshold, to perform a deteriorated developer discarding operation to discard the developer in any one of the divided areas in which the divided area printing rate is equal to or lower than a divided area printing rate threshold thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a photoconductor; a developing device; a developer storage; a supplier configured to supply developer; an optical sensor; and a controller configured to execute: a developing process of developing an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor; a usage-amount obtaining process of obtaining a usage amount of the developer; a supplying process of supplying the developer to the developing device every time when the obtained usage amount becomes equal to or greater than a first threshold; and a detecting process of detecting, by the optical sensor, an amount of the developer in the developing device every time when the obtained usage amount becomes equal to or greater than a second threshold larger than the first threshold, and wherein the controller is configured to execute the detecting process in a period different from a period in which the developing process is being executed.

Abstract: A conductive roller includes a support member, an elastic layer disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the support member, and a surface layer disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer. The elastic layer includes a cylindrical elastic foam and a conductive covering layer covering an exposed surface of the elastic foam, and the elastic layer has a hysteresis loss of 44% or less.

Abstract: An image heating device comprising: a first rotating member, a heater, a heater holder, and a second rotating member, wherein the heater holder has a flat surface portion provided downstream of the heater in a conveying direction of a recording material, the flat surface portion being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first rotating member, wherein the flat surface portion has a first region and a second region in a longitudinal direction, wherein the first region includes a region corresponding to a region of a nip portion through which a central portion of the recording material passes, and the second region is a region on an end portion side from the first region in the longitudinal direction, and wherein in the conveying direction, the downstream end portion of the second region is located upstream of the downstream end portion of the first region.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt-shaped section; a supply section that supplies a lubricating material to an inner surface of the belt-shaped section; a heating section that supports and rotates the belt-shaped section and generates heat during energization to heat the belt-shaped section; a power feed section that is electrically connected to an end part of the heating section and feeds power to the heating section; and a regulating section that is disposed on an outer surface side of the heating section and inside the power feed section with respect to an axial direction of rotation of the heating section to regulate movement of the lubricating material to a power feed section side.

Abstract: The image forming device includes a housing covering a device main body, a ventilation portion through which air is supplied and discharged, the ventilation portion being provided on a side face of the housing, and a leaked water catcher provided below the ventilation portion and protruding toward an interior of the device main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearers, a plurality of optical writing devices, a plurality of image forming units, and circuitry. The plurality of optical writing devices scan and irradiate the plurality of image bearers with a plurality of light beams according to image data to form latent images on the plurality of image bearers. The plurality of image forming units develop the latent images formed on the plurality of image bearers. The circuitry changes scanning speeds of the plurality of light beams and sets, to each of the plurality of optical writing devices, a correction value of an image misregistration on corresponding one of the plurality of image bearers caused by a change of a scanning speed of corresponding one of the plurality of light beams.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive member; a charger configured to charge the photosensitive member based on a charging potential; an exposure unit configured to expose the photosensitive member charged by the charger to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, an exposure intensity of the exposure unit being controlled based on an exposure condition; a developing sleeve configured to develop the electrostatic latent image; and one or more processors configured to perform operations including controlling the image forming unit to form a line test image and a width test image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light scanning device, a developing portion, a control portion and a storage portion. The storage portion stores an evaluation chart. The evaluation chart includes a first evaluation pattern and a second evaluation pattern. The first evaluation pattern includes a first patch row. The first patch row is formed by arranging a plurality of first evaluation patches. The first evaluation patch includes a first dot row, a second dot row and an auxiliary dot row. The second evaluation pattern includes a second patch row. The second patch row is formed by arranging a plurality of second evaluation patches.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light scanning device, a developing portion, a control portion and a storage portion. An evaluation chart includes a first evaluation pattern and a second evaluation pattern. The first evaluation pattern includes a first patch row. The first patch row is formed by arranging a plurality of first evaluation patches. The first evaluation patch includes a first dot row and a second dot row. The second evaluation pattern includes a second patch row. The second patch row is formed by arranging a plurality of second evaluation patches.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light scanning device, a developing portion, a control portion and a storage portion. The storage portion stores an evaluation chart. The evaluation chart includes a first evaluation pattern and a second evaluation pattern. The first evaluation pattern includes a first patch row. The first patch row is formed by arranging a plurality of first evaluation patches. The first evaluation patch includes a first dot row and a second dot row. The second evaluation pattern includes a second patch row. The second patch row is formed by arranging a plurality of second evaluation patches.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a transfer unit, a power supply, and a reader. A test chart is formed by transferring test images to a recording material while applying test voltages from the power supply to the transfer unit. A transfer voltage to be applied to the transfer unit during transfer is set based on the read test images. A reference image is formed on the test chart. The reader reads the test chart by scanning the test chart from a first position to a second position that falls within the test images. The first position falls within a boundary of the recording material on which the test chart is formed and falls outside the test images. Based on the reference image, the result of the reader reading the test chart is obtained by scanning the test chart from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes (i) a housing including a first connector, (ii) a drum unit, (iii) a development unit including a containing portion containing toner and movable between an abutment position and a separation position, (iv) a detection unit including a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and a second connector electrically connected to the light emitting element and the light receiving element, and mounted on the development unit, and (v) a connection member connected to the first connector and the second connector to electrically connect the first connector and the second connector each. A length of the connection member is longer than a first distance from the first connector to the second connector when the development unit is located at the abutment position, and is longer than a second distance from the first connector to the second connector when the development unit is located at the separation position.

Abstract: A heating device has a first rotating member that is heated by a heat source, and a second rotating member that forms a nip portion with the first rotating member, such that a recording material is heated up at the nip portion. The heating device further has: a first cover disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the first rotating member, so as to surround the first rotating member, and a second cover, disposed between the first cover and the first rotating member, and having a protruding portion that protrudes towards the first rotating member. In a longitudinal direction of the first rotating member, a length of the first rotating member is a first length, and a length of the protruding portion is a second length that is smaller than the first length.