Abstract: A gas purification device includes an inflow port provided in an upper part of the gas purification device in a gravitational direction so that gas flows therein, a removing member that removes powder contained in the gas when the gas passes through the removing member, the removing member being disposed at a position such as not to overlap with the inflow port when viewed from above in the gravitational direction, and an outflow port provided in a lower part of the gas purification device in the gravitational direction so that the gas flows out therefrom after passing through the removing member.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a sensor sheet having a central electrode layer and a measuring instrument. A first dielectric layer is laminated on the upper surface of the central electrode layer. A second dielectric layer is laminated on the lower surface of the central electrode layer. A first outer electrode layer is formed on the surface of the first dielectric layer. A second outer electrode layer is formed on the surface of the second dielectric layer. The central electrode layer and the first outer electrode layer face each other at a first detection portion. The central electrode layer and the second outer electrode layer face each other at a second detection portion. Capacitances of the detection portions change with deformation. The state of deformation of the sensor sheet is measured on the basis of the total capacitance by adding the capacitances of the first detection portion and the second detection portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a developing device including a developing carrying member and configured to develop an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member with developer, an electrostatic capacity detecting portion configured to detect information on electrostatic capacity between the developer carrying member and the image bearing member, and a toner content detecting portion configured to detect information on a toner content of the developer accommodated in a developing container. On the basis of the detected electrostatic capacity and the detected toner content, a controller controls a driving speed at which the developer carrying member is rotationally driven.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image formed using a liquid developer containing toner particles and a carrier liquid, a transfer member, an input portion into which information on a kind of a recording material is inputted, an adjusting device configured to adjust an amount of the carrier liquid of the toner image, and an executing portion configured to execute an operation of the adjusting device depending on the information when the toner image is in the adjusting position. The executing position executes either of a plurality of operations including a first operation in which the amount of the carrier liquid of the toner image is increased, a second operation in which the amount of the carrier liquid is decreased, and a third operation in which the amount of the carrier liquid is not adjusted.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a method of cleaning a silicon photoconductor includes contacting the silicon photoconductor with a base-peroxide solution, rinsing the silicon photoconductor with a liquid, and heating the silicon photoconductor to evaporate the liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a home appliance diagnosis system and to a diagnosis method for same, and more particularly, to a home appliance diagnosis system and to a diagnosis method for same, which involve receiving product information on the home appliance, which is outputted in a predetermined signal form from the home appliance, and analyzing the received product information to check the condition of the home appliance and to diagnose faults in the home appliance. According to the present invention, a diagnosis server easily extracts product information from a signal, and improves the accuracy of the product information through a multi-stage verification process when the diagnosis server outputs product information from the signal received thereat to diagnose the home appliance, to thereby achieve improved accuracy and reliability of the result of the diagnosis based on the product information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing member, a blowing section, and a hard ware processor. The blowing section generates airflow toward the fixing nip, and the airflow is used for separating a sheet from the fixing member. The hardware processor performs a control of the blowing section so that airflow amounts of the blowing section toward the fixing nip are different in an axial direction of the fixing member and part of the airflow flowing from the blowing section toward a non-sheet-passing region of the fixing nip is directed in the moving direction of the fixing member.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer unit, which is supported by an image forming apparatus, includes a moving mechanism which is capable of moving to an abutting position at which a first transfer member abuts against an intermediate transfer belt and a separating position at which the first transfer member is separated from the intermediate transfer belt; and a changing mechanism which changes a biasing force for abutting a second transfer member against the intermediate transfer belt. The biasing force is changed such that the biasing force when the first transfer member is at the separating position becomes weaker than the biasing force when the first transfer member is at the abutting position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which can properly manage individual information after replacement and history of replacement on the apparatus side. If individual information is successfully read from a toner cartridge storing the individual information, the image forming apparatus records the individual information in an apparatus-side memory. At a predetermined timing of when there is a possibility that the toner cartridge is replaced, the image forming apparatus attempts to read information from the toner cartridge. If the reading fails and the individual information recorded in the apparatus-side storage is not information read from the toner cartridge, the image forming apparatus writes new individual information about the toner cartridge to the apparatus-side storage, and records information generated on the apparatus side in the written individual information.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a lateral end heater to heat a lateral end span of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof. A thermal conduction aid contacts the fixing rotator. A nip formation pad contacts the thermal conduction aid. A lateral end temperature detector detects a temperature of the fixing rotator in a lateral end detection span in the axial direction of the fixing rotator. The thermal conduction aid contacts the nip formation pad in a first span including the lateral end detection span in the axial direction of the fixing rotator with a first contact area. The thermal conduction aid contacts the nip formation pad in a second span disposed outboard from the first span in the axial direction of the fixing rotator with a second contact area smaller than the first contact area.

Abstract: A probe includes a beam and at least two tips. The beam transmits test signals to a device under test (DUT). The at least two tips are arranged on a first end portion of the beam in a direction at a predetermined angle to a length direction of the beam and contacts adjacent terminals of the DUT. The beam has a larger width that exceeds a sum of widths of the at least two tips in a width direction of the beam such that the probe has an improved current carrying capacity and is prevented from being damaged due to overcurrent.

Abstract: A method of converting a standard CMYK color toner printer to a CMYK or CMYW sublimation color toner printer. Providing a standard CMYK color toner printer, comprising four toner printing cartridges: a cyan toner printing cartridge, a magenta toner printing cartridge, a yellow toner printing cartridge, and a black toner printing cartridge. Removing the four toner printing cartridges, such that four empty toner cartridge slots are created. Providing four sublimation toner printing cartridges: a cyan sublimation toner printing cartridge, a magenta sublimation toner printing cartridge, a yellow sublimation toner printing cartridge, and a black sublimation toner printing cartridge, or a white sublimation toner printer cartridge. Installing the four sublimation toner printing cartridges into the four empty toner cartridge slots.

Abstract: In a cartridge, a developing roller is configured to rotate around a first rotational axis extending in a predetermined direction and to carry developer thereon, the developing roller having a first end and a second end apart from each other in the predetermined direction, a from-first-to-second direction being defined along the predetermined direction as being directed from the first end to the second end. A developing electrode is formed of a conductive material and is configured to be electrically connected to the developing roller, the developing electrode including a main part and a protruding portion protruding from the main part in the from-first-to-second direction. A detection body is formed of an insulating material and is rotatably supported by the protruding portion, the detection body including a first opening that exposes part of the protruding portion and a covering portion covering part of the protruding portion.

Abstract: An elastic force of an elastic member 11 required for rotating a driven rotational body 8b is decreased. A first rotational body 8d and a second rotational body 9a arranged downstream of a driven rotational body 8b in a drive train that transmits a driving force from a driving rotational body 7 to a driven member 4 are included. The first rotational body 8d rotates in synchronization with the driven rotational body 8b. The second rotational body 9a is rotated by the first rotational body 8d and rotates the driven member 4. The first rotational body 8d rotates without rotating the second rotational body 9a when the driven rotational body 8b rotates by an elastic force of an elastic member 11.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus executes an image formation process through which a developer image is formed on an image carrier by developing an electrostatic latent image while rotating a developer carrier in a forward direction, a voltage controller controls development and regulating voltages after the image formation process such that a magnitude relationship between the development regulating voltages becomes inverted from that during the image formation process, and after finishing the image formation process, in a state where the magnitude relationship between the development and regulating voltages is inverted from that during the image formation, the drive controller rotates the developer carrier in the forward direction for a prescribed period, and afterwards rotates the developer carrier in a reverse direction for another prescribed period.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cover, is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a switching member. The switching member switches states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein the toner cartridge is restricted from being detached, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The process cartridge is movable between an attached position to be placed entirely inside the main body and a detached position to be entirely outside the main body. The main body includes a restrictor to restrict the process cartridge from moving from an intermediate position toward the detached position. While the process cartridge is restricted by the restrictor, a supportive part in the cover supports the process cartridge with the switching member being at least partly placed outside the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, a rotatable image bearing member, and a cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly, the cartridge including a rotatable developer carrying member. A first swingable member is provided in the main assembly, engages with one end of the cartridge in an axial direction of the developer carrying member when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, and swings integrally with the cartridge, and a second swingable member is provided in the main assembly, engages with the other end of the cartridge in the axial direction of the developer carrying member when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, and swings integrally with the cartridge.

Abstract: In a cartridge, a developing roller is configured to rotate around a first axis extending in an extending direction. The cartridge further includes a cylinder extending in the extending direction and configured to receive electric power, a first portion, which is one portion of a circumferential surface of the cylinder, and a second portion, which is another portion of the circumferential surface of the cylinder. The cartridge also includes a gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the extending direction, a first covering portion covering the first portion and being rotatable with the gear, and a gear cover covering at least a portion of the gear and having an opening through which the second portion is exposed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member; a process member configured to act on the photosensitive member; and a light scanning apparatus configured to emit a light beam to the photosensitive member. The light scanning apparatus includes: a light source; a rotary polygon mirror; a first signal generating unit configured to receive the light beam deflected by the rotary polygon mirror to generate a first signal indicating a scan starting position; and a second signal generating unit configured to generate a second signal based on a rotation angle of the rotary polygon mirror. A lighting-up timing of the light source for generating the first signal is determined based on a number of the second signals after a voltage for image formation is applied and a relationship between the first signal and the second signal is obtained before the voltage is applied and after the rotary polygon mirror is rotated.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat generator being disposed inside a loop formed by a rotator and including a heat generating portion to radiate radiant heat. A reflector is disposed inside the loop formed by the rotator and includes a reflection face to reflect the radiant heat radiated from the heat generator toward the rotator. A support supports the reflector. A holder holds each lateral end of the support in a longitudinal direction of the support, which is perpendicular to the rotation direction of the rotator. A fastener attaches the reflector to the support at an attachment position disposed at each lateral end of the reflector in a longitudinal direction of the reflector. The attachment position is disposed outboard from a lateral edge of the heat generating portion of the heat generator and disposed inboard from the holder in the longitudinal direction of the reflector.