Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first detector detecting an operation sound based on a sound wave received by a receiver; a second detector detecting basis weight of recording material based on an ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transmitter and received by the receiver; a switching unit that switches destination of a reception signal from the receiver between a first path to the first detector and a second path to the second detector; and a controller that controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the first path at a first timing and to the second path at a second timing. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the controller controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the second path at the first timing or to the first path at the second timing.

Abstract: According to aspects of the present disclosures, a controller of an image forming apparatus is configured to determine, when printing is started, whether a particular condition is satisfied, the particular condition being satisfied when an elapsed time from a time when the polygon mirror starts rotating to a time when a rotation speed of the polygon mirror has reached a determination speed which is slower than a target speed is less than an upper limit time, when the particular condition is determined to be satisfied, feed the sheet from the sheet tray with the feed roller before the rotation speed reaches the target speed, and when the particular condition is determined not to be satisfied, feed the sheet from the sheet tray with the feed roller after the rotation speed has reached the target speed.

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: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a belt, an inner roller, an outer member, an inner roller position changing mechanism, an acquiring portion, and a controller. In a case that information acquired by the acquiring portion shows that first and second recording materials are coated paper, the controller controls a position changing mechanism so that a position of the inner roller when a toner image is transferred onto the second recording material is changed to a second position. In a case that the information acquired by the acquiring portion shows that the first and second recording materials are plain paper, the controller controls the position changing mechanism so that the position of the inner roller when the toner image is transferred onto the second recording material is maintained at a first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an exposure device, a developing device, a primary transfer device, a secondary transfer device, and a control unit. The exposure device exposes the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier. The developing device forms a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image using toner. The primary transfer device primarily transfers the toner image to a transfer body. The secondary transfer device applies a transfer bias to secondarily transfer the toner image to a recording medium. The control unit applies a cleaning bias to the secondary transfer device to remove residual toner after the secondary transfer. When the control unit determines that the toner image based on the exposed electrostatic latent image is not secondarily transferred at a predetermined timing, the first cleaning processing is performed until the subsequent processing is started.

Abstract: A binary ink developer (BID) may include a power supply electrically coupled to an electrode, a developer roller, and a cleaner roller. The BID may also include a controller to determine a level of image ghosting based on a sum of currents at the electrode, the developer roller and the cleaner roller, and instruct the power supply to provide an adjusted voltage to the cleaner roller in response to a determination of the level of image ghosting.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a controller configured to switch between a first speed printing where a polygon mirror rotates at a first speed and laser light is at a first power and a second speed printing where the polygon mirror rotates at a second speed slower than the first speed and laser light is at a second power lower than the first power. The polygon mirror rotates at the first speed and laser light is at the first power when a first test pattern is formed. The polygon mirror rotates at the first speed and laser light is at the second power when a second test pattern is formed. The first speed printing is executed based on a detection result of the first test pattern. The second speed printing is executed based on a detection result of the second test pattern.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer includes a charge roller in charge-transferring relation to a photoconductive imaging portion. The printer may determine an AC voltage setpoint of the charge roller.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a roller that conveys a printing medium, a medium sensor that detects a medium property of the printing medium conveyed by the roller, and a controller that adjusts a conveyance speed of the printing medium by the roller based on the medium property detected by the medium sensor.

Abstract: A developer cartridge including a housing, a spring auger, and a rotation member. The housing accommodating a developer and including a first end portion and a second end portion in a lengthwise direction. The housing is to discharge the developer through a developer discharge outlet coupled to the housing and adjacent to one of the first end portion and the second end portion. The spring auger is located inside the housing and is to rotate to transport the developer to the developer discharge outlet. The rotation member is located at the first end portion of the housing and connected to a first end of the spring auger to rotate the spring auger. A first portion of a bottom surface of the housing is flat and a second portion of the bottom surface is internally convex from the first portion are repeatedly arranged on the bottom surface in the lengthwise direction.

Abstract: A recording material cooling device includes a belt; a cooling member, a first roller, a second roller, an urging member for urging a bearing portion so that the second roller moves toward an inner peripheral surface of the belt, a holding member, for holding the urging member, and a moving member for moving the holding member between a first position for enabling rotation of the belt by stretching said belt by the first roller and the second roller and a second position for facilitating exchange of the belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heating member, a temperature sensor to output detection values for determining a temperature of the heating member, a first amplifier to amplify a difference value between the detection values with a first amplification factor, a second amplifier to amplify the difference value with a second amplification factor, a converter to generate first temperature information through analog-to-digital conversion of the difference value amplified by the first amplifier, generate second temperature information through analog-to-digital conversion of the difference value amplified by the second amplifier, and generate compensation temperature information, and a temperature determiner to determine the temperature of the heating member based on the second temperature information and the compensation temperature information, in a particular temperature range, and determine the temperature of the heating member based on the first temperature information and the compensation temperature i

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating body that regulates a movement of a transfer roller in a direction along a rotating shaft of the transfer roller. The rotating body includes a first portion located at a first distance from the rotating shaft of the transfer roller in a direction intersecting the rotating shaft of the transfer roller and a second portion located at a second distance that is nearer than the first distance. The rotating body takes a first position for supporting the transfer roller in a separating position by making the first portion abut on the cover in a state where the side cover is closed. The rotating body takes a second position where the second portion is directed to the cover and the transfer roller is in an abutting position in a state where the side cover is closed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment includes an image carrier that moves in a first direction, a developing device, a detector, and a determination unit. The developing device uses a developer on the surface of the image carrier to forma strip-shaped image inclined with respect to the width direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the image carrier. The detector detects the density difference occurring in the strip-shaped image formed on the surface of the image carrier while moving in the width direction. The determination unit determines based on a detection result by the detector whether or not there is an abnormality.

Abstract: A heater includes a single plate substrate that extends along a first direction, and a first heat generating member disposed on a first surface of the substrate and covering a first portion of the first surface. The first heat generating member has electrodes formed at both end portions thereof in a second direction crossing the first direction and is electrically connected to a power source. The heater further includes a second heat generating member disposed on a second surface of the substrate and covering a second portion of the second surface at a location on the substrate that is offset with respect to a location of the first portion on the substrate in the first direction. The second heat generating member has electrodes formed at both end portions thereof in the second direction and is electrically connected to the power source.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum; and a toner cartridge which is mountable on the drum cartridge and stores toner, wherein the drum cartridge includes: a cleaner configured to collect waste toner on the photosensitive drum; a waste toner conveyance tube configured to convey the waste toner collected by the cleaner; and a developing unit which includes a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum and is swingable about a swing axis with respect to the photosensitive drum, and wherein the toner cartridge has a waste toner storing chamber for storing the waste toner conveyed by the waste toner conveyance tube.

Abstract: A drum unit includes: a frame; a first photosensitive drum; a second photosensitive drum; a charger; and a storage medium. The frame includes: a first frame plate; a second frame plate spaced apart from the first frame plate in a first direction; a third frame plate connecting one end of the first frame plate to one end of the second frame plate; and a fourth frame plate connecting another end of the first frame plate to another end of the second frame plate. The first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are rotatably supported by the frame. The second photosensitive drum is spaced apart from the first photosensitive drum and positioned closer to the third frame plate than the first photosensitive drum to the third frame plate in a second direction. The storage medium has an electrical contact surface positioned at an outer surface of the third frame plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transferred body to which a toner image is transferred, a transfer device, a contact-separation device, and circuitry. The transfer device transfers the toner image from the transferred body onto a recording medium. The contact-separation device includes a motor and drives the motor to move the transfer device away from or into contact with the transferred body. The circuitry causes the contact-separation device to move the transfer device away from or into contact with the transferred body. The circuitry moves the transfer device away from the transferred body to a first position during standby and locates the transfer device at a second position that is closer to a contact position at which the transfer device is configured to contact the transferred body than the first position in an interval between the recording medium and a succeeding recording medium.

Abstract: A controller is configured to, when forming an image on one sheet, in a case where a length of one sheet in a conveyance direction is larger than a first length, drive a moving mechanism to move a plurality of developing rollers from a separation position to a contact position, temporarily stop driving of the moving mechanism, and then, at a first timing, again drive the moving mechanism to move the plurality of developing rollers from the contact position to the separation position; and in a case where the length of the one sheet in the conveyance direction is smaller than or equal to the first length, drive the moving mechanism to move the plurality of developing rollers from the separation position to the contact position and then to move the plurality of developing rollers from the contact position to the separation position without stopping driving of the moving mechanism.

Abstract: A recording material determination apparatus includes a transmission unit, a reception unit, and a determination unit. The transmission unit transmits an ultrasonic wave to a recording material. The reception unit vibrates when the reception unit receives the ultrasonic wave having been transmitted from the transmission unit and having passed through the recording material, and outputs a signal corresponding to a vibration state. The determination unit determines a basis weight of the recording material in accordance with the signal output from the reception unit. A resonance frequency of the reception unit differs from a resonance frequency of the transmission unit, and the reception unit is capable of receiving a sound wave in an ultrasonic range and a sound wave in an audible range.