Abstract: A fixing device includes: a unit that includes a fixing member and a pressure member contacting the fixing member to form a nip, and heats a medium with a toner image while conveying it with it nipped in the nip, fixing the toner image; a separating member that separates the medium from the fixing member; and a holder holding the separating member. The separating member includes: a separating guide portion that is disposed downstream of the nip in a conveying direction of the medium and faces the fixing member along a width direction of the fixing member, extends along the conveying direction, and separates the medium from the fixing member; and an extending portion that extends from a downstream edge in the conveying direction of the separating guide portion, and is bent with respect to the separating guide portion to separate from the medium downstream in the conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image, a special color developing device to develop the latent image with a special color toner other than standard color toners to form a special color toner image, an adhesion amount adjuster to adjust a special color toner adhesion amount by changing an application bias between the photoconductor and a developing sleeve of the special color developing device, a setting unit to set brightness of the special color toner, and a developing-performance adjuster to adjust a developing performance of the special color developing device according to a setting value of the brightness set by the setting unit. The developing-performance adjuster adjusts the developing performance of the special color developing device to a developing performance different from a developing performance set to each of standard color developing devices in adjustment of densities of the standard color toners.

Abstract: A fixing device including: arms that support the heating roller and the pressure roller so as to be displaced between a pressure-contact attitude in which a nip portion is formed and a distanced attitude in which the nip portion is released; a solenoid that displaces the rollers to the distanced attitude; a separation plate that has an electric conductivity, is disposed to face the heating roller, and separates the sheet that has passed through the nip portion from the heating roller; and interlocking arms that, in interlock with displacement from the pressure-contact attitude to the distanced attitude by the solenoid, displace a first end portion of the separation plate to an attitude to be distanced away from the heating roller by a first distance, change the potential of the separation plate from a floating potential to a reference potential, and accelerate discharge between the heating roller and the separation plate.

Abstract: [Problem to be solved] To provide an image forming apparatus for suppressing formations of white spots and achieving high quality images, while obtaining sufficient image densities in both of the recessed parts and the projected parts of a recording medium surface. [Solution] An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member 36 that abuts against a surface of an image carrier carrying a toner image and forms a transfer nip, and a power supply 39 that outputs a voltage (transfer bias) for causing the toner image on the image carrier to be transferred onto a recording medium P nipped in the transfer nip. The voltage is switched alternatingly between a transfer direction voltage for causing the toner image to be transferred from the image carrier onto the recording medium and a voltage having an opposite polarity of the transfer direction voltage when the toner image on the image carrier is to be transferred onto the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided to correct color misregistration and includes an image correcting unit. A toner density adjustment patch image forming section forms toner density adjustment patch images, and a toner density adjustment patch image misalignment measuring section measures amounts of misalignment of the images. Then, a color-misregistration correction patch image forming section forms color-misregistration correction patch images on a transfer member. A color-misregistration correcting section measures amounts of misalignment of the color-misregistration correction patch images to correct the color misregistration. The control unit controls the color-misregistration correction patch image forming section to change color-misregistration correction patch images to be formed in accordance with the amounts of misalignment of the toner density adjustment patch images measured by the toner density adjustment patch image misalignment measuring section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer, an electric charging member to electrically charge the latent image bearer uniformly while forming an electric charging nip therebetween by contacting the latent image bearer. A value obtained by dividing a moment of inertia of area of the latent image bearer by the cube of length thereof ranges from about 0.000058 [mm] or more to about 0.000145 [mm] or less. A width of the electric charging nip in a direction of rotation at longitudinal ends of the latent image bearer is larger than that at a longitudinal center thereof. A difference between the width of the electric charging nip in the direction of rotation at the longitudinal ends of the latent image bearer and that at the longitudinal center thereof is larger than an amount of deformation of the latent image bearer generated during rotation at the longitudinal center thereof.

Abstract: A cleaning unit for an image forming apparatus includes a frame; a cleaning blade; a first seal sealing between the frame and the blade, provided by injection molding into the frame adjacent to an axial end; and a second seal between the frame and the drum, provided opposing to the free end portion adjacent to the axial end portion, and the second seal having a L-like configuration with projection extending in a direction crossing with the axial direction outwardly beyond an end surface of the blade, wherein the first seal includes a base portion provided at a position inside of the end surface and extending in the crossing direction and an extension extending from the base portion in the axial direction, the extension having a free end portion compressed by the projection to seal between the projection and the frame.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum that carries a toner image, a developing roller is provided to be capable of rotating while carrying toner and supplies the toner to the photosensitive drum in order to develop a latent image, and a voltage applying device applies a voltage to the developing roller. The developing roller includes a conductive base layer and a surface layer covering the base layer, and a surface charge density of the developing roller is equal to or smaller than a surface charge density of the toner.

Abstract: A belt assembly includes a belt formed into an endless loop, a plurality of support rollers with a rotary shaft, a shaft-end retainer, a movable supporting member, and a drive transmission device. The plurality of support rollers includes a first support roller and a second support roller. The shaft-end retainer is disposed at each end of the rotary shaft of the plurality of support rollers. The movable supporting member supports the first support roller and is movably disposed relative to the shaft-end retainer. The drive transmission device transmits a driving force to one of the plurality of support rollers. The drive transmission device and the movable supporting member are disposed on a same side as the shaft-end retainer in an axial direction of the plurality of support rollers. The drive transmission device is disposed between the shaft-end retainer and the movable supporting member in the axial direction.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer carrier configured to hold a developer including a toner and a carrier on a developer carrying area, a first chamber configured to collect the developer from the developer carrier, and a second chamber configured to communicate with the first chamber and to circulate the developer between the first chamber and the second chamber. A first conveying member in the first chamber conveys the developer from a first communication portion toward a second communication portion, and a second conveying member in the second chamber conveys the developer from the second communication portion toward the first communication portion. The first communication portion is configured to be provided outside of the developer carrying area, and the second communication portion is configured to be provided in a position overlapping an edge of the developer carrying area.

Abstract: A setting unit sets a high-voltage set value. A first generation unit generates a high voltage based on the set value set by the setting unit and a first reference voltage supplied from a supply unit. A second generation unit generates a second reference voltage by being supplied with the first reference voltage from the supply unit. A comparing unit compares the first reference voltage with the second reference voltage. A storage unit stores a comparison result that has been obtained in advance by the comparing unit comparing the first reference voltage with the second reference voltage. A correction unit corrects the high-voltage set value based on a comparison result that is obtained by the comparing unit when the image forming apparatus is in use and the comparison result that has been obtained in advance and is stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fan cover including a wall portion disposed to overlap a rotational axis of a fan in an axis direction along the rotational axis, the wall portion extending in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the axis direction, a first section disposed on one side relative to the wall portion in the orthogonal direction, the first section having a first opening disposed on one side relative to the fan in the axis direction and on the one side relative to the rotational axis in the orthogonal direction, and a second section disposed on an other side relative to the wall portion in the orthogonal direction, the second section having a second opening disposed on the one side relative to the fan in the axis direction and on the other side relative to the rotational axis in the orthogonal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a power supply switch, a photoreceptor drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer roller, a cleaning device, and a toner-layer formation unit. The transfer roller contacts the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor drum at a downstream side with respect to the developing device in the rotation direction and is configured to transfer the toner image to a sheet. The cleaning device is cleaning device arranged opposed to the photoreceptor drum, downstream. The cleaning device is configured to clean the photoreceptor drum. The toner-layer formation unit is configured to form a toner layer on a surface of the transfer roller in an initial operation started after the apparatus main body is installed in a predetermined installation location and the power supply switch is switched on.

Abstract: Apparatus main body of image forming apparatus includes first rotation portion, second rotation portion, and lever. Toner container includes opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing the toner discharge outlet, and first coupling portion that is provided rotatably with respect to the housing and configured to, when the toner container is attached to the apparatus main body, be coupled with the first rotation portion of the apparatus main body to be integrally rotatable therewith. The opening/closing mechanism includes second coupling portion configured to, when the toner container is attached to the apparatus main body, be coupled with the second rotation portion of the apparatus main body to be integrally rotatable therewith. The opening/closing mechanism is configured to open and close the toner discharge outlet as the second coupling portion is rotated. The second coupling portion and the first coupling portion are configured to rotate in conjunction with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a detection unit which detects a light amount of reflected light from a measurement image, and includes an irradiation unit which irradiates the measurement image with light, a first unit which receives specular light from the measurement image, and a second unit which receives diffused light from the measurement image; a controller which controls an image forming condition based on a detection result; and a determination unit which determines a first emission intensity based on a light amount of the specular light, and determines a second emission intensity based on the first emission intensity, the light amount of the specular light, and a light amount of the diffused light, wherein the emission intensity of light with which the irradiation unit irradiates the measurement image is controlled based on the second emission intensity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided in which an application of air for separating a sheet from a fixing section can be performed in a stable manner with an appropriate air quantity and air velocity. In the image forming apparatus, a control section sets, on the basis of an individual difference of a separation fan motor, a fan motor drive condition for a sheet passing period in which the sheet passes through a nip portion N, and the control section maintains the fan motor drive condition thus set throughout the sheet passing period.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer member and a cleaning member. The image forming apparatus: determines whether the electric resistance of a recording medium is low or high; applies a first transfer bias to the transfer member if the electric resistance is low; applies a second transfer bias to the transfer member if the electric resistance is high; applies a first cleaning bias to the cleaning member if the electric resistance is low; and applies a second cleaning bias to the cleaning member so that a potential difference between a portion of a surface of the image carrier against which the cleaning member is rubbed and the cleaning member becomes smaller than that in a case of applying the first cleaning bias if the electric resistance is high.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposure device having an adjustment period for adjusting an output while exposing a photosensitive drum to light prior to image formation and a developing device. The developing device is configured to change between a contact state where the photosensitive drum and a developing roller are in contact with each other and a separation state where they are separated from each other. The developing device changes from the separation state to the contact state when a portion on the photosensitive drum exposed to light in the adjustment period of the exposure device is at a developing position.

Abstract: Provided is an endless belt-shaped metal substrate, which can be used for a fixing member. The metal substrate includes an austenitic stainless alloy that contains copper and unavoidable impurities, in which the austenitic stainless alloy has a martensite ratio of less than 20%, and includes an austenitic phase as a matrix and a Cu-rich phase dispersed in the matrix, the Cu-rich phase extending in a direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the metal substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a positively-charged electrophotographic photoreceptor which uses a tubular photosensitive layer support base with a wall thickness of (t), wherein (t) is 0.7 mm or less, a chamfer angle (a) of an end surface of the photosensitive layer support base is 30° or more and 60° or less with respect to a longitudinal tangent of a surface of a tubular photosensitive layer support base, and an outer end surface-tail edge surface width (b) of the tubular photosensitive layer support base is 0.05 mm or more.