Abstract: A developing device and method that develops a latent image with a two-component developer includes a developer carrier, a first developer conveying screw that conveys the developer from a first to a second end of the first developer conveying screw and transfers the developer to the developer carrier, and a second developer conveying screw that conveys the developer from a first to a second end of the second developer conveying screw and conveys the developer from the second end of the second developer conveying screw to the first end of the first developer conveying screw. A following relationship is satisfied: T2≧3T1, where T1 is a time for conveying the developer from the first to the second end of the second developer conveying screw, and T2 is a time for conveying the developer from the first to the second end of the first developer conveying screw.

Abstract: A sheet transferring apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus including a sheet transferring mechanism and a controller. The sheet transferring mechanism transfers a recording sheet at a transfer speed to an image forming mechanism in the image forming apparatus. The controller determines the transfer speed based on a transfer speed used for an immediately previous recording sheet.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a magnet brush forming device includes at least a first magnetic pole facing an image carrier carrying a latent image and a second magnetic pole positioned downstream of the first magnetic pole in the direction of rotation of a developer carrier. When a magnet brush formed on a developer carrier by the first magnetic pole forms a nip between it and the image carrier, flux density in the direction normal to the developer carrier has an attenuation ratio of 40% or above. The second magnetic pole has an upstream half-value point located downstream of a point upstream of and angularly spaced from the edge of a developer storing member by 15°. Flux density in the normal direction and flux density in the tangential direction between the first and second magnetic poles have vectors the sum of which is 85 mT or above.

Abstract: A tandem image forming device and method for an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming sections arranged side by side along an intermediate image transfer belt. The image forming sections each include a developing device and a cleaning device arranged around an image carrier. One of nearby image forming sections has its cleaning device positioned above the developing device of the other image forming sections, e.g., an agitating section forming part of the image forming section. This configuration ensures smooth circulation of developer and therefore obviates an irregular developer distribution while reducing the overall size of the image forming device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for applying usage or weighting factors to static cycle counts or “clicks” as tallied in a document processing system. The application of weighting factors to a system cycle count when suitably summed will provide superior measure of the wear to a replaceable element as well as improved indication for the determination of the end of life for a replaceable element in that system. As such the more timely service or substitution for that replaceable element in the system can be provided, thereby allowing costs and service down-time to be minimized.

Abstract: In order to provide a miniature full-color recorder having an excellent color reproducibility and to provide a full-color recorder having a wider color reproduction range beyond the range of subtraction color mixing of three primary colors, first and second potential split developing processes are continuously arranged for one recording medium.

Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a new style toner cartridge which has a toner cartridge/developer roller/waste bin sub assembly covered by a first and second end cap. The method includes removing the first and second end cap using a cutting tool and template, removing the existing seal from the toner hopper, replacing it with a new seal assembly that connects the toner hopper to the developer roller housing, reattaching the waste bin, and then reattaching the end caps with quick disconnect clips or clamps.

Abstract: A toner reproduction curve (TRC) control method is provided.

Abstract: A duplex printing method in a printing apparatus having a duplex printing function printing incoming print data on both sides of a print sheet includes sequentially converting the incoming print data into images corresponding to respective pages and storing the images of the pages, determining whether there are the images having two side pages to be printed on both sides of a single sheet among the images of the pages, if it is determined that there are the images having the two side pages, forming a dual queue having both odd page image related information and even page image related information corresponding to the two side pages, variably scheduling a printing sequence of the pages to be printed using the dual queue and performing the duplex printing function, and repeating the above operations until all of the incoming print data are completely received and printed. Therefore, a memory can be efficiently used, and the scheduling of the printing sequence of the pages to be printed can be simplified.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process cartridge mounting mechanism for mounting a process cartridge to a mounting position in a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge mounting mechanism includes an openable cover mounted to the main assembly. The cover is opened and closed when the cartridge is mounted to or demounted from the main assembly. The mechanism also includes a first main assembly side guide, which is provided in the main assembly and which is movable in interrelation with opening and closing operation of the cover; a second main assembly side guide, which is movable in interrelation with opening and closing operation of the cover; a first cartridge guide, provided in the cartridge at one longitudinal end of a cartridge frame, for guiding the cartridge toward the mounting position; and a second cartridge guide, provided in the cartridge at one longitudinal end of a cartridge frame, for guiding the cartridge toward the mounting position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a transferring member for transferring a toner image on the image bearing member onto a recording material in a transferring portion of the image forming apparatus. When the recording material is not present in the transferring portion, a voltage is applied to the transferring member, and on the basis of an electric current then flowing in the transferring member, a voltage applied to the transferring member, when a non-image portion of the image bearing member is in the transferring portion, is controlled.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt unit having a driving roller, a follower roller whose outer peripheral portion is formed of an elastic material and a transfer belt which is made of a resin and stretched between the driving roller and the follower roller. The elastic modulus of the outer peripheral portion of the follower roller is lower than that of the driving roller. The transfer belt unit is configured to be bent in the middle, or to change its direction in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image bearing member. A visual image forming device forms the visual images on the at least one image bearing member. A two-side transfer device transfers the visual images on the at least one image bearing member onto both sides of the recording medium held on a recording medium holding member. A fixing device fixes the visual images transferred onto the both sides of the recording medium. A recording medium conveying device including at least one recording medium supporting member supports the recording medium. The recording medium conveying device is positioned between the two-side transfer device and the fixing device, and conveys the recording medium from the two-side transfer device to the fixing device while supporting a non-image portion of the recording medium by the at least one recording medium supporting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of imaging units each for forming an image on a recording medium, an image carrier provided in each of the plurality of imaging unit, a development unit for visualizing an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier by toner in each of the plurality of imaging units, and a supporting device configured to integrate at least two imaging units of the plurality of imaging units into a unit, wherein the supporting device has a plurality of pressing members configured to press upper portions of the at least two imaging units, respectively, and a plurality of supporting members configured to support lower portions of the at least two imagining units, respectively.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main unit including a printing section for executing printing on a paper sheet and a first conveyance section for conveying a paper sheet at a set speed, and a peripheral unit connected to the main unit and having a second conveyance section for conveying a paper sheet at a predetermined speed. The apparatus includes a storage for storing the conveyance speed of the second conveyance section, and the upper limit of the current used to drive a motor in the second conveyance section, the conveyance speed and the upper limit being varied in accordance with the type of main unit and stored in association with the upper limit, a type setting section for setting the type of main unit, and a setting section for setting, in accordance with the set type, the conveyance speed of the second conveyance section and the upper limit of the current used to drive the motor.

Abstract: A toner cleaning device for removing toner which remains on an organic photoreceptor is provided. The toner cleaning device can include a cleaning blade, a support member of the cleaning blade and a damping material. An image forming method is also provided. The method includes removing toner which remains on an organic photoreceptor by using the toner cleaning device.

Abstract: An image apparatus includes a cartridge with two separate accommodating portions. The first accommodating portion for accommodating unused developer and is formed in a housing. A second accommodating portion for accommodating transfer residual developer is arranged adjacent to the first accommodating portion. A conveying member extending over the first and second accommodating portions, when an amount of transfer residual developer to be stored in the second accommodating portion exceeds a predetermined level, conveys the transfer residual developer from the second accommodating portion to the first accommodating portion. Each one of the accommodating portions includes an agitator.

Abstract: An image forming system of the present invention includes an image forming section for forming an image on a sheet fed thereto. A stapler included in a finisher staples a stack of sheets each carrying image formed by the image forming section thereon. A controller causes the image forming section to form an image in accordance with input image data and causes the stapler to staple the stack of sheets at a preselected point or points. When sheets of different sizes are mixed together, the controller inhibits the stapler from stapling the stack except when the short edges of a large size sheet and the long edges of a small size sheet are identical in length in a direction perpendicular to the direction of sheet feed and when all the images printed on the sheets have the same orientation when the stapled stack is spread.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus is made so as to have respective chambers in which a main exposure system, a substrate carrying system, and a mask carrying system are housed. The apparatus is structured so that the respective environments in the chambers are substantially independently maintained from each other. Substrate processing can be facilitated by incorporating photoelectric detection of the substrate center in association with handing-over of the substrate from one substrate carrying member to another, and/or storage of a cleaning substrate in a storage member which also holds substrates being processed by the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: character data forming means for forming character data; synthesizing means for synthesizing the character data formed by the character data forming means with image data; image output means for printing a synthesis result of the synthesizing means onto a sheet; sheet post-processing means for performing a post-process to the sheet outputted by the image output means; and adjusting means for adjusting a printing position of the character data and a processing position of the sheet post-processing means.