Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first photoconductor and a second photoconductor; an image carrier onto which a toner image formed on the first photoconductor and a toner image formed on the second photoconductor are transferred; and a controller that, when the toner image formed on the first photoconductor is transferred onto the image carrier, rotates the second photoconductor while keeping the second photoconductor spaced apart from the image carrier.

Abstract: A belt unit for forming a heating nip portion configured to heat a toner image in cooperation with a rotary member facing the belt unit, includes an endless belt, an nip forming member provided along a longitudinal direction of the endless belt on an inner side of the endless belt and configured to contact to an inner surface of the endless belt for forming the heating nip portion, a regulation member configured to regulate a position of the endless belt in the longitudinal direction, and a snap-fit unit formed of the nip forming member and the regulation member and configured to regulate the regulation member from being disengaged from the nip forming member.

Abstract: This invention concerns a cleaning unit which has a photosensitive body and a cleaning frame body supporting the photosensitive body, and which is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording material. In the cleaning unit, which is installed in the apparatus main body so as to adjoin a developing unit including a developing roller that bears toner for developing an electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive body 1, engagement portions (bosses) are disposed on the cleaning frame body so as to protrude toward the developing unit side, and engage with engaged portions (insertion guide portions) disposed on the apparatus main body when the cleaning unit is attached to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A heating unit includes a first rotatable member that generates heat; a second rotatable member that forms, in combination with the first rotatable member, a nip area through which sheets of different sizes pass one by one; a housing that supports the first and second rotatable members such that the first and second rotatable members are rotatable; an electronic component that is fixed to the housing and includes a portion that overlaps a smallest one of the sheets passing through the nip area in terms of a position in a long-side direction of the nip area; and an other member that is provided between the first rotatable member and the electronic component.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a pressure removal mechanism including a camshaft, first and second cam portions being capable of placing a pressing mechanism at a first position, in which first and second rotatable members form the nip, and a second position, in which the pressing mechanism is moved against an urging force provided by a pressing spring at the first position, a first bearing portion, a second bearing portion, a first supporting portion supporting the first bearing portion, a second supporting portion supporting the first bearing portion, a driving mechanism configured to rotate the camshaft, and a regulating portion configured to regulate flexure of the camshaft by contacting the camshaft at a position between the first bearing portion and the second bearing portion with respect to the longitudinal direction of the camshaft, when the pressing mechanism is in the second position.

Abstract: In one example, a method for calibrating a position of a charge roller is described. The method may include a processor positioning a first end of a charge roller to a first plurality of index positions, determining a capacitance between the charge roller and a photoconductor imaging plate at each of the first plurality of index positions, determining a first index position of the first plurality of index positions with a greatest change in capacitance, and calibrating a position of the charge roller based upon the first index position.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a detection device. The detection device includes an actuator and a roller. The roller includes a sheet contact part. The roller is supported by the actuator in a movable manner between a first roller position and a second roller position. When the roller is positioned at the first roller position, the sheet contact part juts out from the actuator as viewed in an axial direction of the roller. When the roller is positioned at the second roller position, the sheet contact part overlaps with the actuator as viewed in the axial direction of the roller.

Abstract: A developer supply member according to an embodiment includes: a shaft with conductivity; and a conductive foam layer that is formed on a surface of the shaft. The conductive foam layer contains silicone rubber as a main component and includes a stress decay of 25% or less and a residual strain of 100 ?m or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a driving roller that drives a transfer member; a facing roller facing the driving roller; a driver that drives one of the photosensitive drum, the driving roller, and the facing roller; and a hardware processor that: acquires carry-in fluctuation information of speed fluctuation of any one of the photosensitive drum, the driving roller, and the facing roller when a sheet member is carried into the transfer member; detects carry-in fluctuation timing of the speed fluctuation of any one of the photosensitive drum, the driving roller, and the facing roller that occurs when the sheet member is carried into the transfer member; predicts carry-out fluctuation timing of speed fluctuation of any one of the photosensitive drum, the driving roller, and the facing roller that occurs when the sheet member is carried from the transfer member; and performs feedforward control on the driver.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer member that transfers a toner image to a continuous sheet, the transfer member having a lower hardness than a member opposed thereto with the continuous sheet therebetween when the continuous sheet is transported; and a moving unit that moves the transfer member in a direction intersecting the direction in which the continuous sheet is transported.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: an image former that performs an image forming process on a paper sheet, the image forming process including foil pressing, and a controller that controls the image former to perform the image forming process by selectively setting one of a first test print mode and a second test print mode when a test print mode is set, an amount of foil consumption at the image former being normal in the first test print mode, an amount of foil consumption at the image former being reduced in the second test print mode.

Abstract: Examples of refreshing a photoconductive layer in an image forming apparatus are described. In one example, a method includes performing a first refreshing cycle comprising applying, at a first refresh unit, a first refresh voltage to the photoconductive layer and applying, at a second refresh unit, a second refresh voltage to the photoconductive layer. A second refreshing cycle is performed including applying, at the first refresh unit, a third refresh voltage to the photoconductive layer, the third refresh voltage being higher than the first refresh voltage and higher than the second refresh voltage. Each of the first and second refreshing cycles electrically bias the photoconductive layer to a refresh polarity opposite to a print polarity applied during a print routine of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In certain examples, a liquid electrophotographic printer has a charge erasing element and a charging element. The charge erasing element at least partially discharges a charged photo imaging plate and a charged layer of liquid toner and the charging element at least partially recharges the layer of liquid toner and the photo imaging plate.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus displays, based on detection of a maintenance event, a first maintenance screen including a moving image illustrating a maintenance method corresponding to the maintenance event, and displays a second maintenance screen including the moving image illustrating the maintenance method based on receipt of a display instruction to display the maintenance method in a state where the maintenance event is not detected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotary member which transports a recording material; a first detecting unit which is provided upstream of the rotary member in a transport direction of the recording material and detects the recording material; a second detecting unit which is provided downstream of the rotary member in the transport direction of the recording material and detects the recording material; a driving unit which drives the rotary member; a control unit which controls the driving unit to rotate and stop the rotary member; and stopping units which operate independently of the control unit and forcibly stop the driving unit based on detection results of the first detecting unit and the second detecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photosensitive member, a charger, a developing device, a transfer device, and a controller. In a printing control, the controller rotates the photosensitive member in a forward direction and applies a first transfer bias. In a reverse rotation control, the controller rotates the photosensitive member in a reverse direction and applies a second transfer bias being zero after finishing the printing control. In a forward rotation control, the controller rotates the photosensitive member in the forward direction and applies a third transfer bias for a period including a time that a part of the photosensitive member reaches the transfer device after finishing the reverse rotation control. The part faces the developing device when the rotating direction of the photosensitive member is switched. The third transfer bias has an opposite polarity to the first transfer bias and an absolute value larger than the second transfer bias.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a photoconductor; an exposing device configured to expose the photoconductor and form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor; a developing device including a developing roller configured to form a developer image on the photoconductor; a developer storage storing developer; a supplier configured to supply the developer from the developer storage to the developing device; and a controller configured to execute: a rotating process of rotating the developing roller; a developing process of developing, by the developing device, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor; a supplying process of supplying, by the supplier, the developer to the developing device; and a stopping process of stopping rotation of the developing roller after the supplying process has been suspended in a case where the supplying process is being executed.

Abstract: A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and lobes extending longitudinally outward from the end surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: photoconductors rotatable and having toner images to be formed on surfaces; a transfer belt on which the toner images formed on the photoconductors are sequentially transferred; and a hardware processor that estimates timing of arrival of end of life of one photoconductor of the photoconductors due to depletion of the surface of the one photoconductor, wherein the hardware processor calculates a depletion amount of the one photoconductor due to a toner, as a first depletion amount, based on a first parameter having a positive correlation with an amount of the toner used for the toner image formed on the surface of another photoconductor that transfers the toner image on the transfer belt before the one photoconductor, and compares the calculated first depletion amount with a predetermined life estimation threshold value to estimate the timing of arrival of end of life of the one photoconductor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an openable-closable member, an image carrier, a cover sheet, and a cover moving mechanism. The openable-closable member is arranged in an open position where it keeps a recording medium conveying passage open and in a closed position where it keeps the recording medium conveying passage closed. The cover sheet is reciprocatable between a protection position where it covers the recording medium conveying passage side of the image carrier and a retracted position where it is retracted from the recording medium conveying passage. The cover moving mechanism moves the cover sheet to the retracted position or to the protection position by opening and closing the openable-closable member. Drawing out the cover sheet in the protection position to the recording medium conveying passage side causes the cover sheet to be arranged in a recording medium removal position.