Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: image formation units each configured to form a developer image; an intermediate transfer body onto which the developer images formed by the respective image formation units are transferred; a secondary transfer member configured to transfer the developer images, which are transferred to the intermediate transfer body, onto a record medium using a voltage supplied to the secondary transfer member; and a voltage supply unit configured to supply a voltage to the secondary transfer member. Arrangement of the image formation units is changeable. Depending on the arrangement of the image formation units in a conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer body, the voltage supply unit changes a voltage to be supplied to the secondary transfer member.

Abstract: An optical writing control device and method are provided, for controlling light emission of a plurality of light sources to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive element, the light sources including a plurality of light emitting elements disposed in a line and classified into a plurality of groups, including frequency converter circuitry configured to acquire image information to be formed as the electrostatic latent image; and a light source controller configured to control the plurality of light sources based on pixel information generated from the acquired image information, wherein the light source controller is further configured to control the light emission of the plurality of light sources by classifying the light emitting elements into the plurality of groups, and shifting a timing of light emission from one group of the plurality of groups to a next group of the plurality of groups, and determine a common illuminating period for the light emitting elements of at least one light sou

Abstract: In one example, a printer includes a printer housing, a photoconductor to apply toner to a print substrate, a developer to apply toner to the photoconductor, a light source to expose parts of the photoconductor to light, and a toner container to supply toner to the developer. The toner container housing is integrated into the printer housing as a load bearing structure or as an exterior feature, and/or the light source is integrated into the toner container as a single sub-assembly within the printer housing.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a first pullout unit, a second pullout unit, and a first lock mechanism. The first unit is movable along a first axis between a first retracted position where the first unit is fully retracted in the apparatus, and a first exposed position where at least one side surface thereof is fully exposed to the front of the apparatus. The second unit is movable along a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, between a second retracted position where the second unit is fully retracted in the first unit, and a second exposed position where the second unit is exposed to a side of the side surface of the first unit. The first lock mechanism prevents movement of the second unit from the second retracted position to the second exposed position when the first unit is not in the first exposed position.

Abstract: A liquid development device includes a storage section storing a liquid developer in which toner is dispersed, a development member to which the liquid developer stored in the storage section is applied using an application unit, a removing device that, after an electrostatic latent image in a latent image-holding member is developed, removes the liquid developer remaining on the development member, and a shearing device that is provided in a path through which the liquid developer removed using the removing device is returned to the storage section, and applies a shear force to the liquid developer removed using the removing device by making the liquid developer pass through a contact section of two members at least one of which rotates and that have different velocities from each other.

Abstract: A drive mechanism includes a first transmission mechanism that transmits a driving force of a drive unit to a first rotary member to rotate the first rotary member; a second transmission mechanism including a first drive path along which the second transmission mechanism transmits the driving force to a second rotary member through a first gear train to rotate the second rotary member, and a second drive path along which the second transmission mechanism transmits the driving force to the second rotary member through a second gear train to rotate the second rotary member, the second gear train having a gear ratio that differs from a gear ratio of the first gear train; and a switching mechanism that is operated by the driving force and switches the second transmission mechanism between the first drive path and the second drive path.

Abstract: A composite element chip includes a substrate; and a plurality of semiconductor thin-films disposed on the substrate and arranged in a predetermined direction which is a first direction. Each semiconductor thin-film includes an array of a plurality of light emitting portions which are arranged so that adjacent light emitting portions are displaced from each other by a predetermined distance in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of light emitting portions being arranged along an imaginary line. Each semiconductor thin-film has a first end that is parallel to the second direction; and a second end that extends along a pattern in which the plurality of light emitting portions are arranged and is parallel to the imaginary line. A semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof, a printing head, and an image forming apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an area coverage calculation section, and an image data rotating section. The image forming device forms a toner image in accordance with image data without setting margins at edges of a first recording medium. The area coverage calculation section calculates an area coverage of the image data for a certain region at each of the edges of the first recording medium. The image data rotating section rotates the image data by a certain angle, when the calculated area coverage at one of the edges is a certain value or more, so that the one of the edges is not on a leading edge side of the first recording medium in a transport direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a nip member, a heater, a reflecting member, a load receiving member, and a protective member. The endless belt has end portions in the first direction and a middle portion defined between the end portions. The nip member is configured to contact an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The heater is disposed inside the endless belt. The reflecting member is entirely disposed on a nip-member side with respect to the heater and is configured to reflect radiant heat emitted from the heater toward the inner circumferential surface. The protective member is disposed between the middle portion of the endless belt and the heater and on a side opposite to the nip member with respect to the heater, and is configured to allow light to pass therethrough. The protective member is fastened to the load receiving member.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a housing unit including a support table on which an original document is supported, a reading member disposed inside the housing unit to read the original document, a power source unit disposed adjacent to the housing unit while being separated by at least one wall, the power source unit accommodating a power circuit, and a sending member that sends air inside the power source unit into the housing unit through an opening formed in the wall.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a drawer movable while supporting an cartridge including a photosensitive drum between an inside position and an outside position; an optical unit in the main assembly to project light onto the drum a shutter member provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position an operating portion to move the shutter member from the open position to the closing position in a process of movement of the drawer from the inside position to the outside position and to move the shutter member from the closing position to the open position in a process of movement of the drawer from the outside position to the inside position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image by scanning an image bearer with light modulated in accordance with image information includes a light source configured to emit the light and a control device configured to control the light source in accordance with the image information. The control device sets light emission duration of the light source for forming a particular pixel in the image to be shorter than light emission duration of the light source for forming a normal pixel, which is a pixel other than the particular pixel irk the image, and sets light emission intensity of the light source for forming the particular pixel to be higher than light emission intensity of the light source for forming the normal pixel.

Abstract: To prevent the detection accuracy from deteriorating due to stray light, an optical apparatus includes the following configuration. The optical apparatus includes a light-emitting member, a light-receiving member, and a substrate on which the light-emitting member and the light-receiving member are mounted. The substrate includes a plate-like substrate layer and a plate-like conductive layer. The optical apparatus further includes a light-shielding member disposed between the light-receiving member and the light-emitting member and inserted in a through-hole of the substrate provided between the light-receiving member and the light-emitting member. The light-receiving member receives reflected light from a portion to be irradiated with the light emitted from the light-emitting member. The conductive layer is excellent in light-shielding property compared to the substrate layer. The conductive layer is exposed to an inner cylindrical surface of the through-hole.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reading portion; an image forming portion; a first casing; a second casing including a space which continuously opens to two directions perpendicular to not only the vertical direction but also each other and including a mounting portion where the first casing is mountable at a position where the space does not continuously open to the two directions; one or more supporting portion; and one or more auxiliary supporting portion. A gap is formed between itself and the other one of the first casing and the mounting portion in a state in which no load is externally exerted on the first casing, and wherein the auxiliary supporting portion contacts the other one when a load not less than a predetermined load is externally exerted on an upper portion of the first casing downward at a position deviated from the mounting portion.

Abstract: A powder transport member includes a rotary member that rotates around an axis inside a container in which powder is contained, a contact member that has one end secured to the rotary member and another end that is a free end, the contact member flexing upon contact of the other end with an inner wall of the container, the contact member having multiple cuts provided in an axial direction of the rotary member, the cuts extending from the other end obliquely with respect to the rotary member, and multiple projections that are provided on the rotary member in the axial direction, the projections projecting from the rotary member toward the inner wall of the container, the projections having a distal end portion that is located at a different position from a starting edge of the cuts with respect to the axial direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer, a developing device, a supplier, and a controller. The controller controls the supplier according to a detection result of a toner density by the toner density sensor and a toner density target value to adjust the toner density of developer in the developing device. The controller is configured to correct the toner density target value and an imaging condition affecting a toner adhesion amount of an output image separately from the toner density, according to a component adhesion deterioration degree being a deterioration degree of carrier due to adhesion of a toner component, obtained based on at least an average image area ratio of the output image, and a coating abrasion deterioration degree being a progression degree of deterioration due to coating abrasion of the carrier, obtained based on at least the average image area ratio of the output image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer to bear a visible image, a transfer device to transfer the visible image from the image bearer onto a recording medium, a separator to separate the recording medium from the image bearer, a separation bias application device to apply a separation bias to the separator; and a controller to control the separation bias. When the recording medium fed in the image forming apparatus is either a black sheet or a metallic sheet, the controller sets the separation bias smaller than a predetermined separation bias value for a reference sheet type other than the black sheet and the metallic sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; a charging device; an exposure device; and a developer carrying member, wherein, when it is assumed that an image forming area, a printing portion and a non-printing portion are an area on the photosensitive member on which an image to be transferred onto a recording material is formed, an area in the image forming area to which the developer adheres and an area in the image forming area to which the developer does not adhere, respectively, the exposure device exposes the printing portion at a first laser power, exposes the non-printing portion at a second laser power smaller than the first laser power, and exposes a non-image forming area on the photosensitive member between two adjacent image forming areas at no laser power or a third laser power smaller than the second laser power.

Abstract: Mounting for a body coil of a magnetic resonance device is provided. A reversible and universal mounting device for a body coil in the magnetic resonance device is provided. The mounting device includes at least one expanding ring for creating a way of retaining the body coil in a tunnel-shaped magnetic opening of the magnetic resonance device. The mounting device also includes at least one expander that is configured to enable the expanding ring to be mounted on the inside of the tunnel-shaped magnetic opening of the magnetic resonance device by spreading. The mounting device includes at least one mounting element for mechanically supporting the body coil on the expanding ring.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the conditions of a pipeline and for the analysis of the fluid contained therein comprising: a central body having a substantially cylindrical form perforated for the whole length and comprising at least a salinity sensor and at least a pH measurement sensor; a first crown of petals connected to the central body, wherein each petal extends from the central body until it touches the internal wall of the pipeline and wherein each petal comprises at least one deformation sensor and at least one roughness sensor; a sliding device integrally connected to the central body in a more advanced position with respect to the first crown of petals, wherein the sliding device can be a second crown of petals identical to the first crown of petals or a foam pig suitably perforated. A method is for determining the conditions of a pipeline and for the analysis of the fluid contained therein, which uses the apparatus.