Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holder; a charging unit that charges a surface of the image holder; an electrostatic charge image forming unit that forms an electrostatic charge image on the charged surface of the image holder; a developing unit that accommodates an electrostatic charge image developer containing a toner having toner particles and that develops an electrostatic charge image formed on the surface of the image holder as a toner image by the electrostatic charge image developer, in which a release agent present in a region within 800 nm from a surface of the toner particles is 70% or more of a release agent in entire toner particles and a melting temperature of the release agent is 65° C. or higher and 80° C.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, an insertion apparatus to insert an insertion sheet among plural sheets, and a charge eliminating apparatus having a charge eliminating unit. The insertion apparatus includes a first conveyance path through which a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus is conveyed to the charge eliminating apparatus, a feeding tray on which the insertion sheet is stacked, and a second conveyance path through which the insertion sheet fed from the feeding tray is conveyed to the charge eliminating apparatus. In the charge eliminating apparatus, the charge eliminating unit performs charge elimination processing on the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus and conveyed to the charge eliminating apparatus through the first conveyance path, but does not perform the charge elimination processing on the insertion sheet fed from the feeding tray and conveyed to the charge eliminating apparatus through the second conveyance path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device including a developing roller, a supply roller, and a conductive roller. During image formation, a bias is applied to each of the supplying roller, the developing roller, and the conductive roller in a state in which each of the supplying roller, the developing roller, and the conductive roller is rotationally driven. During the image formation, a polarity of a first potential obtained by subtracting a DC potential of the developing roller from a DC potential of the supplying roller is the same as a normal charge polarity of the toner, and a polarity of a second potential obtained by subtracting the DC potential of the developing roller from a DC potential of the conductive roller is the same as the normal charge polarity of the toner.

Abstract: A method of converting a CMYK Standard Color Printer to a CMYW Converted White Printer, comprising the steps: providing a CMYK Standard Color Printer; wherein a CMYK Standard Color Printer comprises: a black toner cartridge; wherein the black toner cartridge is installed in toner cartridge slot one; removing the black toner cartridge from the CMYK Standard Color Printer, such that the toner cartridge slot one is empty toner cartridge slot one; providing a white toner cartridge; wherein the white toner cartridge is configured to fit into the empty toner cartridge slot one; installing the white toner cartridge into the empty toner cartridge slot one; and providing raster image processor (RIP) software, such that the CMYK Standard Color Printer is configured to incorporate the white toner into one or more images printed by the CMYK Standard Color Printer in a single pass such that a CMYW Converted White Printer is created.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller to i) notify first notification on an exchange of a developer supply container in a case the developer in the supply container is decreased in amount by being supplied from the supply container to a developer accommodating portion and then the developer amount of the developer in the supply container indicated by the first developer amount information reaches a predetermined developer amount, ii) to execute an operation until the supply container connected to a developing unit is exchanged after the first notification, and iii) to notify second notification notifying an end of the operation in a case that after the operation is started, a use amount of the developer from the developing unit indicated by the second developer amount information reaches the usable amount. In addition, a developing setting portion sets the usable amount depending on exchange number information and print ratio information.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a rotary member that includes a conductive layer, a magnetic core inserted in an interior space of the rotary member, and an energizing coil that includes a conductor and that is wound helically around a circumference of the magnetic core. In a case where a distance between a first cross section of the conductor in a plane along the longitudinal direction and a second cross section of the conductor in the plane and adjacent to the first cross section in the longitudinal direction is L1 (mm), and a distance between the conductor and the magnetic core in a radial direction orthogonal to the helical axis is L2 (mm), following inequalities are satisfied, L1>0.1 and 0.1<L2<2.0.

Abstract: A device configured to fix toner to a sheet including a tubular body, a heater, and a heat conduction section. The tubular body is configured to be in contact with a sheet moving in a first direction. The heater includes a heat generator. The heater includes a first surface and a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface. The first surface of the heater is in contact with the inner surface of the tubular body. The heat conduction section is in contact with the second surface of the heater. The heat conduction section includes a first heat transfer section and a second heat transfer section. The first heat transfer section is in contact with the second surface of the heater. The second heat transfer section is in contact with the surface opposite to the heater with respect to the first heat transfer section.

Abstract: A seal member has a first seal layer which is opposite a container main body; and a second seal layer which is opposite a cap member and the compression slip resistance ? [N] of the first seal layer, the compression rate k [%] of the first seal layer, the thickness T1 [mm] of the first seal layer, the compression residual strain ?1[%] of the first seal layer, the thickness T2 [mm] of the second seal layer, the compression residual strain ?2[%] of the second seal layer, the thickness Tn [mm] of the seal layer other than the first seal layer and the second seal layer and the compression residual strain ?n [%] of the seal layer other than the first seal layer and the second seal layer satisfy 0<?/k<0.3 and 0.04<T2?2/(T1?1+T2?2+ . . . Tn?n)<0.48.

Abstract: A light source module includes a first light source, a second light source, a beam combiner, a substrate, and an adjuster. The first light source emits a first light beam. The second light source emits a second light beam parallel to the first light beam. The beam combiner combines and emits the first light beam and the second light beam. The first light source and the second light source are mounted on the substrate. The adjuster adjusts a mounting height of at least one of the first light source or the second light source on the substrate to vary at least one of (a) a first optical path length of the first light beam or (b) a second optical path length of the second light beam.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a first positioning portion, a first cartridge including a developer bearing member, and a second positioning portion, the first cartridge being attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body, and a second cartridge including a storage portion configured to accommodate the developer, a first positioned portion, and a second positioned portion. The second cartridge is configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus body in a state where the first cartridge is attached to the apparatus body, and a position of the second cartridge in the attachment direction and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the attachment direction with respect to the apparatus body and the first cartridge is determined by the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion coming into contact with the first positioned portion and the second positioned portion, respectively.

Abstract: An assembly for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a toner container removably installable in the image forming device and a latch movable between a latching position restraining the toner container along a longitudinal dimension of the toner container and an unlatching position freeing the toner container to move along the longitudinal dimension of the toner container. A latch actuator has a user engagement surface that is movable along the longitudinal dimension of the toner container between a home position and an actuating position. Pushing the user engagement surface moves the latch actuator from the home position toward the actuating position causing the latch actuator to move the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position to free the toner container for removal from the image forming device.

Abstract: A cooling device which cools an inside of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper, the cooling device includes an overall cooler that cools an entire inside of the image forming apparatus using overall cooling air flowing inside the image forming apparatus, and a partial cooler that blows cooling air to a part to be cooled to cool the part to be cooled, in which volume of the cooling air on a leeward side of the overall cooling air is smaller than volume of the cooling air on a windward side of the overall cooling air in the partial cooler.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless and rotatable belt of which an inner peripheral surface is applied with lubricant, a heater, a rotatable member to rotatably contact the belt and a nip forming member in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt. The nip forming member includes a holding portion, an upstream sliding portion and a downstream sliding portion. The downstream and upstream sliding portions have first and second sliding surfaces sliding with the inner peripheral surface of the belt, respectively. The second sliding surface has a curved shape, and when a force applied to the belt with respect to a length of the second sliding surface is defined as w (N/mm) and a curvature radius of the second sliding surface is defined as R (mm), R/w of the second sliding surface is equal to 5 (mm2/N) or larger and equal to 80 (mm2/N) or less.

Abstract: A system performs a first analysis operation in which an operation history of an image forming apparatus and input information are analyzed, an issuance operation in which, in a case where a result of an analysis of the first analysis operation satisfies notification conditions, a second analysis operation in which a confidence for the result of the analysis of the first analysis operation is obtained, a transmission operation in which, in a case where the confidence is less than a threshold, a message requesting further input of input information is transmitted, and a control operation in which the notification conditions are controlled based on the input information obtained as a response to the message.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging device, an exposure device, a development device, and a development voltage power supply. The development device includes a development container storing a nonmagnetic one-component developer composed only of a toner, and a developer carrier on which a toner layer is formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof. The development voltage power supply applies a development voltage to the developer carrier. The image forming apparatus alternately forms white regions and exposed regions at a predetermined pitch repeatedly on a surface of the image carrier to form a solid image with an area ratio lower than 100%. Where V0 represents a white-region potential of the image carrier, VL represents an exposed-region potential of the image carrier, Vt represents a toner-layer potential, and Vd represents the development voltage, Vd?0.5*(V0?VL)+VL?Vt is fulfilled.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can be replenished with toner using a replenishment cartridge and communicates with a memory device of the replenishment cartridge via a first electric contact portion and a second electric contact portion after a replenishment cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus in an installation portion. The replenishment cartridge is prevented from being detached by a regulation unit when it is in the replenishment position.

Abstract: A toner container comprises: a container for containing toner; a stirring member provided inside the container and configured to stir the toner by rotating around an axis; an engaging member attached to one end of the stirring member and configured to engage with a peripheral edge portion of an opening formed in the container; and a drive transmission member attached to the engaging member and configured to rotate the stirring member around the axis. A method of manufacturing the toner container comprises the steps of: installing the stirring member inside of the container body and attaching the engaging member to one end of the stirring member to bring the engaging member into engagement with the peripheral edge portion of the opening; forming the container by welding the container body and the cover member to each other; and attaching the drive transmission member to the engagement member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a normal image formation mode and a wide color gamut image formation mode in which an amount of a developer per unit area of a developer image of at least a color that differs from a prescribed color among a plurality of colors is increased as compared to the normal image formation mode. Image data is generated such that an image portion formed in the prescribed color in an image formed on a recording material is formed solely by a developer image of the prescribed color in the normal image formation mode, but formed by superimposing a developer image of a color that differs from the prescribed color on a developer image of the prescribed color or formed solely by a developer image of a different color in place of a developer image of the prescribed color in the wide color gamut image formation mode.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt assembly includes an intermediate transfer roller located on an inner side of an intermediate transfer belt to support the intermediate transfer belt, an accommodation portion to accommodate foreign matter, the accommodation portion having an inlet open toward the intermediate transfer belt, and a shutter to open or close the inlet.

Abstract: A transfer nip is formed between a transfer member and a photosensitive drum. The transfer member is configured to transfer a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum to a sheet that passes through the transfer nip. A humidity sensor is configured to detect humidity. A sheet sensor is arranged upstream of the transfer member in a sheet conveyance direction. The sheet sensor is configured to detect a trailing end of the sheet. A controller is configured to: in response to an elapse of a particular period after the sheet sensor detects the trailing end of the sheet, change a transfer bias to be applied to the transfer member from a first transfer bias to a second transfer bias, the second transfer bias having a smaller absolute value than the first transfer bias; and change the particular period based on the humidity detected by the humidity sensor.