Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an endless belt, a photosensitive member, a driving member, a recovering member, and a cleaning member. The endless belt has a surface extending in a first direction. The photosensitive member opposes the surface to provide the surface with toner. The driving member drives the belt so that the surface moves in the first direction during an image-forming period and moves in the opposite direction during a recovering period after the image-forming period. The recovering member recovers, during the image-formation period, residual toner remaining on the photosensitive member after the toner has been provided on the surface, and provides, during the recovering period, the recovered residual toner on the photosensitive member to be provided on the surface. The cleaning member opposes the surface upstream of the photosensitive member in the first direction to clean, during the recovering period, the recovered residual toner provided on the surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a monolithic sealing member for an image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus having the monolithic sealing member are provided. The method includes applying a foamable polyurethane liquid in a portion of a housing in which three or more surfaces meet, molding the foamable polyurethane liquid in a mold and foaming the polyurethane liquid to obtain a polyurethane foam, and hardening the polyurethane foam. The foamable polyurethane liquid may be a one-pack foamable polyurethane liquid or a two-pack foamable polyurethane liquid.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, and detachably mounts which process cartridges having photosensitive drums. The apparatus includes a main assembly, a rotatable openable member, a belt receiving an image or carrying the recording material, supporting members supporting the process cartridges at different levels and movable between drum-contacting and retracted positions, and a connecting member moving the supporting member when the openable member moves to position the supporting member at the drum-contacting position when the openable member is closed, and position the supporting member at the retracted position when the openable member is opened, and including a shaft whose axis crosses the openable member rotational axis, first connecting portions rotatably connected with respective supporting members, and a second connecting portion engaging the openable member and fixed to the shaft closer to the openable member than the first connecting portions are fixed to the shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a transfer device thereof the transfer device including an intermediate transfer belt, at least one intermediate transfer belt roller to maintain tension in the intermediate transfer belt, transfer rollers to press the intermediate transfer belt to image carriers and a state changing device. The state changing device includes: a rotating shaft; a first cam member coupled to the rotating shaft and configured to move the intermediate transfer belt roller to reduce the tension applied to the intermediate transfer belt; and a second cam member coupled to the rotating shaft and configured to move at least one of the transfer rollers away from the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier for carrying a toner image, a drive device for driving the image carrier at a predetermined speed, a control device for giving instruction to the drive device to perform predetermined operation, and a transfer device for nipping a recording sheet with a rotary member at the position opposed to the image carrier and for transferring the toner image on the image carrier onto the recording sheet, wherein the control device gives instruction to the drive device to generate a variation having a phase which is reverse to a phase of a variation given to the predetermined speed of the image carrier by a vibration produced at the time of passage of the recording sheet between the image carrier and the transfer device.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller, a pressure roller and a soaking roller. Temperature of the soaking roller, which contacts with the pressure roller, is measured by a temperature measurement section. This makes it possible to precisely estimate the temperature distribution of the fixing roller and the pressure roller including a non-paper feed area of paper sheets. Based on the temperature of the soaking roller, fixing operation is controlled by a fixing operation control section. Thereby, optimal control can be implemented to suppress the temperature rise in the non-paper feed area according to the estimated temperature distribution of the fixing roller and the pressure roller.

Abstract: The invention provides a wiping assembly in an image forming device, to clean at least one sensor lens in the image forming device. The wiping assembly includes a bracket to move between a first position and a second position across the sensor lens. Further, the wiping assembly includes a wiper to clean the sensor lens. The wiper is located between the bracket and a sensor housing, which supports the sensor lens. The wiping assembly includes a spring to actuate the movement of the bracket between the first position and the second position. The movement of the bracket is actuated by the movement of a print media tray and/or the movement of a toner cartridge.

Abstract: A developing device, process cartridge method, and image forming apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier, the developing device including a first carrying member that supplies a developer to a developer carrier at the position of a developer attracting fourth magnetic pole while longitudinally carrying the developer, and a second carrying member that carries the developer released from the developer carrier at the position of a developer releasing third magnetic pole. The developer carrier has two magnetic poles (second and fourth magnetic poles) of the same polarity sandwiching the developer releasing third magnetic pole. Moreover, the developer releasing third magnetic pole is formed by the two magnetic poles (second and fourth magnetic poles) so that the polarity of the developer releasing third magnetic pole differs from the polarity of the two magnetic poles (second and fourth magnetic poles).

Abstract: A cleaning blade for removing fine particles from a cleaning target by contact with the cleaning target, a method of using the cleaning blade, and an image forming apparatus and process cartridge using the cleaning blade. The cleaning blade includes an elastic blade. A leading edge of the elastic blade includes a friction coefficient of 0.5 or less. The cleaning blade also includes a surface layer that covers the leading edge of the elastic blade. A thickness of the surface layer is between 1 to 50 ?m at a position 50 ?m away from the leading edge, and a hardness of the surface layer is greater hardness than the elastic blade.

Abstract: A humidity detecting device includes a humidity sensor, which detects humidity using a change in an impedance by humidity, and which generates a humidity detection signal according to application of an AC voltage, a detecting unit that detects the impedance of the humidity sensor based on the humidity detection signal, a switching unit that switches a frequency of the AC voltage to at least a first frequency and a second frequency, the humidity sensor being a first impedance at the first frequency and a second impedance at the second frequency, a temperature sensor that detects ambient temperature of the humidity sensor, a calculating unit that calculates a difference and/or a change rate between the first impedance and the second impedance, a discriminating unit that discriminates the humidity sensor based on the difference and/or the change rate, and a control unit that performs processing corresponding to the discriminated humidity sensor.

Abstract: A method of increasing productivity in a reproduction apparatus wherein a first print engine and a second print engine are coupled by an inverter and synchronized. Each sheet of a plurality of receiver sheets is selectively printed in an invert mode or a non-invert mode. A difference of a travel time of a first receiver sheet in an invert path through the inverter in the invert mode as compared to a travel time of a second receiver sheet in a non-invert path through the inverter in the non-invert mode is adjusted so that the difference is an integral multiple of a period between the receiver sheets. Frames on a dielectric support member in the appropriate print engine are skipped when switching between invert mode and non-invert mode.

Abstract: A cleaning member includes a core bar, an elastic coating layer, and high-friction coefficient parts provided on both ends of the cleaning member. The high-friction coefficient parts include an elastic material. Outer peripheries of the high-friction coefficient parts are inclined with respect to an axial direction of the core bar. The cleaning member is roller-shaped and is configured to clean a surface of a roller member to be cleaned in contact therewith. A charging device and a process cartridge also include the cleaning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drum-shaped image carrier; a transfer and separation device which includes a conveyor belt for conveying a transfer material, a transfer roller for supporting the conveyor belt, and a nip regulating roller that is disposed downstream of the transfer roller in a conveyance direction of the transfer material; a transfer region changing section adapted to change a downstream end of the transfer region in a conveyance direction of the transfer material by changing a position of the nip regulating roller; and a transfer pressure changing section which changes a transfer pressure that corresponds to a pressure by the transfer roller against the image carrier, wherein the transfer pressure changing section changes the transfer pressure in correspondence with the change of the downstream end of the transfer region by the transfer region changing section.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a rotatable image heater for heating a recording material, a coil, outside the heater, for generating magnetic flux for heating the heater and having an end outside an end of the heater with respect to the rotational axis direction, a pressor contacting the heater outer surface for forming a nip nipping and conveying the recording material, a metal member for pressing the pressor through the heater and having an end which is located outside the end of the heater and outside an end of the coil with respect to the rotational axis direction, and a magnetic flux confiner disposed inside the heater between the coil and the metal member, for confining the magnetic flux from the coil so as not to extend toward the metal member and having an end located outside the end of the heater with respect to the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: In a fixing apparatus provided with a plurality of fixing heaters having heat distribution characteristics that are different from each other inside a fixing roller, and an image forming apparatus provided with the fixing apparatus, an auxiliary heater is provided, the auxiliary heater being provided inside the fixing roller and to which power is distributed only during the warm-up period until the fixing roller in a lower temperature state reaches a predetermined fixing temperature. The plurality of fixing heaters includes a first fixing heater having first heat distribution characteristics that mainly heats a center portion of the fixing roller, and a second fixing heater having second heat distribution characteristics that mainly heats both end portion regions of the fixing roller.

Abstract: A rotary member includes a rotary shaft with a flange that projects radially out from a position near an end of the rotary shaft. A shaft end portion of the rotary shaft projects longitudinally beyond the flange and has a lubricant filling hole for receiving a lubricant. The rotary member also includes a bearing with a wall surface that has a recess. The recess has an opening and a closed depth end. The shaft end portion is accommodated in the recess so that the flange contacts the wall surface and closes off the recess to define a substantially closed space that can retain lubricant.

Abstract: A first body houses a photoconductor is provided with a second body openably and closably attached to the first body. Additionally, a unit is provided to be swingable with respect to the second body such that an exposure surface of the unit is disposed at an exposure position opposing the photoconductor when the second body is closed. The exposure surface of the unit is disposed at a retreated position facing toward the rotary shaft of the second body when the first body is opened. Since the exposure surface of the unit faces toward the rotary shaft of the second body when the second body is opened, the exposure surface is not exposed to outside of the second body.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide methods, materials and devices for a corona charging. Specifically, carbon nanotube yarns can be used as corona wires (or coronode) in a corotron-type or scorotron-type charging device. The carbon nanotube yarns can provide small diameters, and desired electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. The carbon nanotube yarns can have a diameter of about 100 microns or less for a low operating voltage of the charging device.

Abstract: A fixer includes a fixing member with a rotary heat generator, a pressure member, an excitation coil disposed facing a heat generation layer of the rotary heat generator to generate magnetic flux that inductively heats the heat generation layer, a loop-shaped demagnetization coil unit disposed facing the heat generation layer to generate magnetic flux that partly counteracts the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil, a first magnetic core disposed in a first area that is enclosed by both the excitation coil and the demagnetization coil unit, and a second magnetic core disposed in a second area that is outside a loop of the demagnetization coil unit and enclosed by the excitation coil. The first magnetic core and the second magnetic core are magnetically continuous in a rotary axial direction of the rotary heat generator. A fixing method fixes an image on the sheet used in a fixer.

Abstract: A first roll brush is formed from material having the positive triboelectric charge polarity against toner. A positive bias is applied to the first roll brush through a first collection roller by a first bias application device. A second roll brush is formed from material having the negative triboelectric charge polarity against toner. A negative bias is applied to the second roll brush through a second collection roller by a second bias application device. Thus, the first and second roll brushes are applied by each of biases having polarity identical to the triboelectric charge polarity of material of the roll brush against toner. This enhances cleaning performance of both the roll brushes and prevents degradation of the cleaning performance.