Abstract: A CRUM unit which is mountable/dismountable on an image forming apparatus is disclosed. The CRUM unit includes a power extracting circuit to, when a clock signal is received from an image forming apparatus, extract power from a high value of the clock signal and store in a capacitive element and a controller to operate using the extracted power, wherein the clock signal has a first pulse width in a data section where a data signal is received and transmitted, and has a second pulse width which is different from the first pulse width in an pause section where a data signal is not received.

Abstract: A drum supporting member, which is usable with an image forming apparatus, includes a photosensitive drum and a mounting portion for detachably mounting a developing cartridge. The drum mounting portion also includes a contacting member contactable with the developing cartridge, with contacting member being movable between a first position and a second position. When the contacting member is in the first position, the contacting member contacts the developing cartridge with a developing roller of the developing cartridge being placed in a third position contacting the photosensitive drum. When the contacting member is in the second position, the contacting member contacts the developing cartridge with the developing cartridge being placed in a fourth position in which the developing cartridge is dismountable from the drum supporting member.

Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer supplying apparatus includes a pump portion provided to act at least on said developer discharging chamber and having a volume changeable with expansion and contraction with reciprocation, the cam groove for converting the rotational force received by a gear into a force for decreasing the volume of pump portion, a cam groove for converting the received force into a force for increasing the volume of the pump portion, a cam groove not converting the received force for operating the pump portion, and a phase detecting portion for stopping the rotation of a feeding portion using one of said cam grooves.

Abstract: A transfer device includes an endless belt having a surface roughness Rz ranging approximately from 0.05 ?m to 0.15 ?m and a cleaning blade that serves to clean the belt and that includes a resin substrate having a substantially planar shape and a coating layer covering at least one edge of the resin substrate, wherein the coating layer has a connection layer and a surface layer, the connection layer is disposed so as to face the interface with the resin substrate and contains diamond-like carbon and at least one selected from the group consisting of titanium nitride, titanium silicon, titanium tungsten, titanium carbide, and titanium carbonitride, and the surface layer covers the connection layer and contains diamond-like carbon.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including applications and system side software for providing system side services to the applications is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes: an authentication module for displaying an authentication screen on an operation panel of the image forming apparatus, wherein the authentication module allows the image forming apparatus to display a screen for using the image forming apparatus instead of the authentication screen if authentication data input from the authentication screen satisfies an authentication condition, and wherein the authentication module is provided in the image forming apparatus separately from the system side software.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller and a developing magnetic pole. The developing roller is disposed to face an image carrier across a predetermined gap. The developing magnetic pole is provided in the developing roller so as to be displaced between first and second magnetic pole positions. When the developing magnetic pole is at the first magnetic pole position, a magnetic field is generated at a first position in the gap. When the developing magnetic pole is at the second magnetic pole position, a magnetic field is generated at a second position in the gap. When a circumferential speed ratio of the developing roller to the image carrier is increased, the developing magnetic pole is displaced toward the second magnetic pole position, and when the circumferential speed ratio is decreased, the developing magnetic pole is displaced toward the first magnetic pole position.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a rotator, a transmitter and a moving mechanism. The case main body stores a toner. The rotator is stored in the case main body and rotates around a rotation axis. The transmitter is arranged outside the case main body and transmits rotation to the rotator. The moving mechanism moves the transmitter between a first position and a second position which is arranged at an outside of the first position in a rotation axis direction of the rotator. The moving mechanism includes a holder holding the transmitter. As the holder moves with respect to the case main body, the transmitter moves between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires rendering information including one or both of a text and an illustration; a first image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet material based on the rendering information that has been acquired; and a second image forming unit that forms an electrostatic attraction toner image on the sheet material, the electrostatic attraction toner image being for imparting an electrostatic attraction function to the sheet material, the electrostatic attraction function allowing the sheet material to be attracted to an object surface by using static electricity.

Abstract: A drive transmitting device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, a rotation driver, and a linker. The first rotator is rotatable. The second rotator is rotatable in a state where the second rotator comes into pressure contact with the first rotator. The rotation driver rotates the first rotator. The linker links speed change operation with pressure change operation, the speed change operation being operation to change a speed ratio of a surface of the first rotator and a surface of the second rotator, the pressure change operation being operation to change pressure force of the second rotator to the first rotator.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus of the present embodiment has two limiters composed of a conventional high order limiter and a low order limiter, and carries out control to switch the limiter according to a temperature and a humidity so as not to reach a image contrast potential equal to or greater than those limiters. Carrier development can occur if image formation is performed in a state where the image contrast potential is high. Therefore, by providing a low order limiter as in the present embodiment and carrying out control so as not to exceed the low order limiter at the time of the image formation, an occurrence of the carrier development can be suppressed, and an image density can also be within a prescribed range.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a roller, an endless belt, and a heat generating member disposed in a space inside the endless belt, extending in a width direction of the endless belt, and pressing the endless belt against the roller. A sheet is passed through a nip formed between the roller and a portion of the endless belt pressed by the heat generating member, such that an image on the sheet is fixed thereto. The heat generating member includes first and second heat generating portions that are adjacent to each other along the width direction and independently operable from each other. A boundary of the first and second heat generating portions extends in a direction inclined with respect to a sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus, including: a light source; a deflection unit configured to deflect a light beam emitted from the light source; a reflecting mirror configured to reflect the light beam to a photosensitive member; a housing; a first support portion provided in the housing to support one end of the reflecting mirror; a second support portion provided in the housing to support the other end of the reflecting mirror; a first leaf spring configured to press the reflecting mirror at the one end to apply an urging force for urging the reflecting mirror against the first support portion; and a second leaf spring configured to press the reflecting mirror at the other end to apply an urging force for urging the reflecting mirror against the second support portion, wherein a pressing force of the first leaf spring is larger than a pressing force of the second leaf spring.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit that heats and fixes an unfixed image held on a recording medium onto the recording medium, a detector that is disposed at a position downstream from the fixing unit in a direction in which the recording medium is transported and that detects the recording medium by detecting thermal energy emitted by the recording medium, and a heating unit that heats the detector.

Abstract: A powder container includes a storing chamber that stores powder, a discharge path extending through a wall of the storing chamber and from which the powder is discharged, an inner wall that forms an inner surface of the wall and has an opening communicating with the discharge path, an outer wall that forms an outer surface of the wall and has an opening communicating with the discharge path, and an opening-and-closing member provided between the inner wall and the outer wall and that opens and closes the discharge path while moving along the inner wall and the outer wall.

Abstract: A fusing unit and an image forming apparatus includes a housing, a fusing belt disposed inside the housing and a pressing roller forming a nip with the fusing belt, and a receiving portion disposed to face the fusing belt at a position spaced downwardly apart from the fusing belt in a gravity direction.

Abstract: A process unit has an image carrying unit having an image carrying member configured to be rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction, and a developing agent removing member, a developing unit having a developing agent carrying member configured to be rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a waste developing agent collecting unit configured to collect the developing agent removed by the removing member from the image carrying member. The waste developing agent collecting unit is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the developing unit such that the waste developing agent collecting unit faces the developing unit, and the developing unit is connected to the waste developing agent collecting unit such that the developing unit being movable in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the waste developing agent collecting unit.

Abstract: A developing device includes a rotary member delivering a developer to a latent image on an image carrier while rotating, a supply member disposed in a supply path and including a supply shaft and a helical or substantially helical supply blade, the supply member supplying the developer to the rotary member while rotating, a stirring member disposed in a stirring path, which extends alongside the supply path, and including a stirring shaft and a helical or substantially helical stirring blade, the stirring member stirring and circulating the developer between the supply and stirring paths while rotating, and an ejection path connected to an upstream portion of the supply path in a transport direction of the developer to eject the developer to the outside. The stirring blade's outer diameter is 1.1 or about 1.1 times or more and 1.5 or about 1.5 times or less the supply blade's outer diameter.

Abstract: An image carrying member unit is provided with an image carrying member, and a unit housing. The image carrying member includes an image carrying member main body which has an outer peripheral surface on which a photosensitive layer is formed, a flange part which is secured to both ends of the image carrying member main body, a cylindrical oil-impregnated sintered bearing which is secured to the through-hole of the flange part, a conduction member which conducts electricity between the oil-impregnated sintered bearing and the image carrying member main body, a spindle which is slidably inserted in the oil-impregnated sintered bearing and secured to the unit housing, and a contact spring which has a coiled spring part into which the spindle is inserted, and which is sandwiched in a compressed state between an end surface in the axial direction of the oil-impregnated sintered bearing and the unit housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a voltage applying unit that applies a bias voltage for enabling a transfer unit to transfer a developer layer to a transfer medium, the developer layer being retained by an image carrier in accordance with image information; a measuring unit that measures a surface potential of the developer layer; and a setting unit that sets a value of the bias voltage to be applied by the voltage applying unit in accordance with the surface potential measured by the measuring unit, a combined electrostatic capacitance of a surface layer of the image carrier and the developer layer, and an electrostatic capacitance specific to the transfer medium.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating member that heats a recording medium having an image while transporting the recording medium by rotating; a measuring member that measures a temperature of the heating member and includes a body member, and a cantilever member whose base end is fixed to the body member and whose free end is in contact with the heating member; and a supporting member that supports the measuring member and includes a contact portion, the contact portion being in contact with a base portion of the cantilever member.