Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a first container, a second container, and a toner supplying device. The toner supplying device includes first and second conveyance members that convey the toner in the first and second containers, and first and second sensing shafts that are used to sense the remaining quantities of toner there. The first and second sensing shafts have a first or second light-shielding plate that moves into and out of the optical path of an optical sensor. Of the first and second light-shielding plates, one rotates together with the first or second conveying member selectively driven and makes contact with the other, and thereby makes it move out of the optical path of the optical sensor.

Abstract: An example image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form a toner image on a print medium by using an electrophotographic method, a fixing unit to fix the toner image to the print medium by heat and pressure, a photo finishing unit to apply heat and pressure to the print medium after fixing and to cool the print medium, and a clear toner application unit located on an upstream side of the photo finishing unit with respect to a transporting direction of the print medium to apply 0.3 mg/cm2 or more of a clear toner to the print medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image on a sheet, and an image reading device to read an image from the sheet. A processing unit causes the image forming device to perform a predetermined image formation to form a first image for position correction of an output image and a second image for tone correction. A value of the position correction is obtained, based on a read image, and a tone correction value is obtained based on a read image from a second image sheet.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a first agitator; an agitator gear; a first protrusion; a developing memory; a first electrical contact surface; and a first holder holding the first electrical contact surface. The agitator gear includes a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear positioned between the large diameter gear and the casing in the first direction. The first protrusion protrudes outward from one end of the casing in the first direction, and is positioned between the casing and the large diameter gear in the first direction. The first protrusion is positioned away from the small diameter gear. The first holder is positioned farther from the first protrusion than the large diameter gear is in the first direction. The first holder and the first electrical contact surface are movable relative to the casing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a drum cartridge, and a development cartridge. The drum cartridge is movable in a first direction through the opening between a first position at which the drum cartridge is located inside the housing and a second position at which the drum cartridge is located outside the housing. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction and a first handle located at a downstream end of the drum cartridge in a movement direction in which the drum cartridge moves from the first position to the second position. The development cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The development cartridge includes a development roller and a second handle located upstream of the first handle in the movement direction in a state where the development cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.

Abstract: A developer used in a developing apparatus equipped with a metal blade includes a toner base particle and external additives, the external additives including a silica particle with a particle diameter of 5 nm or more and 25 nm or less and an inorganic spacer particle with a particle diameter of 50 nm or more and 150 nm or less, and an area occupancy of the silica particle on a surface of the toner base particle is 40% or more.

Abstract: A cartridge is mountable in and dismountable from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, in which the main assembly includes an opening and an openable member including a discriminating portion. The cartridge includes a process unit including a rotatable photosensitive member and a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive member, and a developer storage unit configured to store a developer. The developer storage unit is provided with a discharge opening for permitting discharge of the stored developer to the process unit and is mountable to and dismountable from the process unit. The developer storage unit is provided with a portion-to-be-discriminated provided so as to be engaged with the discriminating portion of the openable member when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly and the openable member is in a closed position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; a process cartridge including a photoconductive drum and a developing roller; a toner cartridge containing toner; and a drawer movable between an inner position and an outer position. The process cartridge includes a lock member movable between a lock position at which the lock member locks the process cartridge to the drawer, and a release position at which a lock between the process cartridge and the drawer is released. The lock member is located at the lock position in a state in which the process cartridge is mounted to the drawer, and the toner cartridge is mounted to the process cartridge. The lock member is located at the release position in a state in which the process cartridge is mounted to the drawer, and the toner cartridge is removed from the process cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and a control unit. The fixing device includes a heating resistor formed of a positive temperature coefficient material. The control unit energizes the heating resistor with a first energization amount if a temperature of the heating resistor is lower than a predetermined temperature, and energizes the heating resistor with a second energization amount that is higher than the first energization amount if the temperature of the heating resistor is higher than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus includes a housing to accommodate toner, and an inlet port and an outlet port formed in the housing. The outlet port supplies the toner to a developing device of the imaging apparatus. The inlet port receives a residual toner removed from an image carrier of the developing device as a recycled toner.

Abstract: A metal frame of an image forming apparatus includes a connecting member which is a metal plate and which connects first and second spaced apart support members which are constructed to support an image forming unit of the an image forming apparatus. The connecting member includes a first facing portion which faces a first region of the first support member around a slit portion thereof, and a fitted portion which is supported by an inner peripheral surface of the slit portion and is fitted into the slit portion in a plate thickness direction of the fitted portion. A width of the fitted portion in a direction vertical to a plate thickness direction of the first support member and the plate thickness direction of the fitted portion in the slit portion is less than or equal to a width of the slit portion in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame to which a developing cartridge including a storage medium having an electrical contact surface is detachably attachable; a photosensitive drum; a transfer roller; and a conveying roller. The drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction and positioned at one end portion of the frame in a second direction. The transfer roller is rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction and in contact with the drum. The conveying roller is rotatable about a third axis extending in the first direction and separated from the transfer roller in the second direction. A first opening of the frame is positioned between the transfer roller and the conveying roller in the second direction. The electrical contact surface is exposed to an outside through the first opening in a case where the developing cartridge is attached to the frame.

Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame to which a developing cartridge including a storage medium having an electrical contact surface is detachably attachable; a photosensitive drum; a transfer roller; and a conveying roller. The drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction and positioned at one end portion of the frame in a second direction. The transfer roller is rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction and in contact with the drum. The conveying roller is rotatable about a third axis extending in the first direction and separated from the transfer roller in the second direction. A first opening of the frame is positioned between the transfer roller and the conveying roller in the second direction. The electrical contact surface is exposed to an outside through the first opening in a case where the developing cartridge is attached to the frame.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a drum cleaner, a waste toner tube, and a flange. The waste toner tube includes a first end portion communicating with the drum cleaner and a second end portion connected to the flange. The developing device includes a protruding portion facing the flange. The cushion member is located between the flange and the protruding portion. The cushion member allows a cartridge mounting part of the developing device to move with respect to the flange in a case where the developing device moves with respect to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device, a printing device and a method of operating a printing device. The device comprises an air flow path extending from an intake to an outlet. The intake is to be mounted in a printing device and comprises a proximal intake segment and a distal intake segment along the air flow path. A proximal air flow path from the proximal intake segment to the outlet is shorter than a distal air flow path from the distal intake segment to the outlet. Each of the proximal and distal intake segments comprises a wall segment with at least one hole. An opening ratio of an area of the at least one hole and an area of the respective wall segment is larger in the distal intake segment than in the proximal intake segment.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoreceptor that forms a toner image; a light emission element that exposes the photoreceptor; at least one light emission controller that controls light emission of the light emission element; and a hardware processor that transmits a signal including a control parameter for controlling the light emission element with respect to the light emission controller, wherein the light emission controller stops light emission control over the light emission element according to communication that receives the signal including the control parameter from the hardware processor.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to be rubbed against the first rotary member via lubricant, and being configured to receive radiant heat from a heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member involves a nip forming portion configured to be in contact with the first rotary member, and an extending portion formed continuously with a downstream edge portion of the nip forming portion. The extending portion involves a holding portion configured to hold the lubricant. The holding portion is longer than the second rotary member and shorter than the first rotary member, and when viewed in a sheet conveyance direction, both end portions of the holding portion are position outside of end portions of the second rotary member and inside of end portions of the first rotary member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer, a drum cartridge, an exposure device, a developing cartridge, and a fixing device. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a cleaning member, and a waste toner conveying pipe. The drum cartridge is mountable to the drawer. The developing cartridge includes a toner container and a waste toner container, and is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The toner container includes a developing roller. The cleaning member is located between the photosensitive drum and the fixing device in a vertical direction in a state where the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located at an inner position. The toner container is swingably coupled to the waste toner container, thereby being capable of moving relative to the photosensitive drum in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing device for supplying a toner onto the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device having the toner, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer comprising a binder resin (A), the toner has a toner particle, the toner particle has a core comprising a binder resin (B) and a wax and a shell layer formed on a surface of the core, the binder resin (A) has a prescribed structure: the wax comprises a prescribed monoester compound: and a process cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a cover configured to openably close the opening, photosensitive drums, cartridges, a first motor and a controller. Each cartridge has a developing roller, a storage chamber configured to store toner, and an agitator configured to agitate the toner. The first motor is configured to rotate the agitators. The controller rotates the agitators by rotating the first motor when forming an image on a sheet. The controller determines whether a new cartridge is included in the plurality of cartridges in response to the image forming apparatus being turned on or in response to the cover being closed. In a case where a new cartridge is included, the controller stirs toner with the agitators by rotating the first motor. In a case where a new cartridge is not included, the controller does not stir the toner.