Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image transfer device for transferring a toner image from the image bearing member to a sheet, an application device for applying a transfer voltage to the image transfer device, and a controller for controlling an output mode operation for outputting a predetermined chart in which test halftone toner images transferred with different transfer voltages are formed to adjust the transfer voltage. When outputting a maximum size of the chart, the controller forms the test toner images in a region within 50 mm from an edge in a width direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the sheet.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressure member, and a heating section. The heating section faces an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt. The heating section includes a heater and a heater holding member. The heater heats the fixing belt. The heater holding member holds the heater. The heater holding member has a first side surface, a second side surface, and an inclined slit. The first and second side surfaces are in contact with the inner circumferential surface. The first side surface has the inclined slit. The inclined slit is located in the first side surface in a direction of a rotational axis of the fixing belt. The inclined slit has one end on a side of the pressure member and the other end on an opposite side to the side of the pressure member. The other end is located nearer a middle (center) of the first side surface in the direction of the rotational axis than the one end.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, a transfer roller, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to perform an alternating bias control. During the alternating bias control, the control circuit causes the charging roller and the transfer roller to rotate in accordance with a rotation of the photosensitive drum, and controls the charging roller to alternately turn off and on to a first bias of a predetermined polarity and the transfer roller to alternately turn off and on to a second bias of the predetermined polarity, such that at least a part of a region of the photosensitive drum biased by the first bias is not biased by the second bias, and that at least a part of a region of the photosensitive drum biased by the second bias is not biased by the first bias.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt and a heating section. The heating section faces an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt. The heating section includes a heater, a heater holding member, a reinforcing member, and at least one rotor. The heater heats the fixing belt. The heater holding member holds the heater. The reinforcing member reinforces the heater holding member. The at least one rotor faces the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt. The at least one rotor is attached to the reinforcing member.

Abstract: A heating device includes an endless rotator that rotates in a rotation direction and a heater that contacts an inner circumferential surface of the endless rotator and extends in an axial direction of the endless rotator. An elastic body contacts the inner circumferential surface of the endless rotator and is disposed downstream from the heater in the rotation direction of the endless rotator. A holder holds the heater and the elastic body. A pressure rotator is disposed opposite the heater and the elastic body via the endless rotator to form a nip between the endless rotator and the pressure rotator. A motion restrictor is mounted on the holder. The motion restrictor restricts motion of the heater downstream in the rotation direction of the endless rotator.

Abstract: An example method of collecting liquid carrier from a vapour in a printing system includes: heating a vapour carrying a liquid carrier and passing the heated vapour carrying liquid carrier through a volume of liquid carrier. Liquid carrier carried in the heated vapour condenses into the volume of liquid carrier as it passes through the volume of liquid carrier.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a developing device that supplies developer to a photosensitive member and an elastic portion that cleans a peripheral surface of the photosensitive member. Multiple grooves are formed side by side in a generatrix direction on the peripheral surface. The developer contains a toner including a toner particle and an organosilicon polymer having a structure represented by R—SiO3/2 covering the toner particle surface, where R represents a hydrocarbon group having at least 1 and not more than 6 carbon atoms. When a penetration amount of the elastic portion with respect to the photosensitive member is set as ? (mm), and a fixing rate of the organosilicon polymer on the surface of the toner particle is set as ? (%), ??0.02×??0.4 is satisfied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an image forming section, an image density difference detector, and control circuitry. The image forming section is configured to form a gradation image pattern on a surface of the image bearer. The gradation image pattern includes gradation images having different image densities stepwise in a sub-scanning direction. The image density difference detector is configured to detect image density differences in a main scanning direction of the gradation images. The control circuitry is configured to execute an image density difference correction mode that corrects the image density differences in the main scanning direction based on detection results detected by the image density difference detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first toner image forming unit, a second toner image forming unit, and a transfer section. The first toner image forming unit forms a first toner image with use of a first toner. The first toner has a complex viscosity that falls within a range from 625 Pascal-seconds to 3860 Pascal-seconds, both inclusive, at a temperature of 100 degrees centigrade. The second toner image forming unit forms a second toner image with use of a second toner. The transfer section transfers the first toner image onto a print medium, and transfers the second toner image onto the print medium in a region that overlaps a portion or all of a region where the first toner image has been transferred. The print medium includes a polymer compound.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a bias controller. The bias controller varies both a charging alternating-current frequency, which is the frequency of a charging alternating-current voltage, and a developing alternating-current frequency, which is the frequency of the developing alternating-current voltage. When the region of the charging and developing alternating-current frequencies in which interference fringes appear in a developed image due to interference between the charging and developing alternating-current frequencies is taken as a variation region and the variation speeds of the charging and developing alternating-current frequencies in the variation region are taken as a first and a second variation speed respectively, the bias controller varies the charging and developing alternating-current frequencies such that one of the first and second variation speeds is a positive-number multiple of the other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photosensitive members; a scanner unit which includes light sources, a rotatable polygonal mirror, and a plurality of reflecting members; a fixing unit; and a discharge tray. The scanner unit is provided between the plurality of photosensitive members and the discharge tray with respect to a vertical direction, and a rotational axis of the rotatable polygonal mirror is inclined relative to the vertical direction. Selected ones of the laser beams emitted from the light sources are reflected toward a side with the fixing unit, and remaining ones of the laser beams are reflected toward an opposite side. Of the selected ones of the laser beams, the laser beam reflected toward the reflecting member provided at a position remotest from the rotatable polygonal mirror travels downward relative to a horizontal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus cover, first and second exposure units, and an orientation setting mechanism. The apparatus cover opens or closes by pivoting about a rotation fulcrum with respect to an apparatus body. The first exposure unit is disposed at a first position, on an inner surface, spaced apart from the rotation fulcrum. The second exposure unit is disposed at a second position, on the inner surface, closer than the first position to the rotation fulcrum. The orientation setting mechanism sets an orientation of the first exposure unit to a first direction approaching the apparatus body in a closed state. The orientation setting mechanism sets it to a second direction further away than the first direction from the rotation fulcrum and sets the orientation of the second exposure unit to a third direction between the first and second directions when the opening angle is a first angle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing properties of a test sample with a tri-axial nuclear magnetic resonance include a tri-axial load frame encasing a tri-axial load cell having a tri-axial sample holder and a piston assembly. A radial space surrounds the tri-axial sample holder. The tri-axial load frame further encases at least one end cap operable to contact the tri-axial load cell, and a nuclear magnetic resonance instrument. An axial pressure line is in fluid communication with the piston assembly, a confining pressure line is in fluid communication with the radial space, and a pore pressure line in fluid communication with the test sample. The axial pressure line, the confining pressure line, and the pore pressure line are independent and separate fluid flow paths.

Abstract: An example stand for the support of a Binary Ink Development unit has first and second spaced supports upstanding from a base portion to securely receive a Binary Ink Development unit and also to securely receive a component of a Binary Ink Development unit.

Abstract: A stirring device includes a stirrer configured to stir a stirred object, at least another component of the stirring device, and a coating layer. The coating layer is disposed on at least one of a contact part of the stirrer that contacts the at least another component and a contacted part of the at least another component contacted by the stirrer.

Abstract: A feeding screw for feeding a developer includes a rotation shaft, a first blade portion helically formed on an outer peripheral surface of the rotation shaft to feed the developer in one direction, a second blade portion helically formed on the outer peripheral surface to feed the developer in the one direction, and a third blade portion helically formed on the outer peripheral surface to feed the developer in the one direction. The first blade portion and the second blade portion overlap with each other with respect to a rotational axis direction of the feeding screw, the second blade portion and the third blade portion do not overlap with each other with respect to the rotational axis direction, and the third blade portion and the first blade portion overlap with each other with respect to the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: A cleaning device for a rotational body is provided. The cleaning device includes a scraping portion whose edge is pressed against a rotational body to which toner adheres. The scraping portion scrapes the toner off the rotational body. The cleaning device also includes a guide portion that guides a recording medium toward the rotational body, and a guide support portion that supports the guide portion. The guide support portion is disposed at a position separated from the scraping portion in a state in which the guide support portion is pressed by the guide portion that is guiding the recording medium.

Abstract: A powder container includes a discharge port configured to discharge powder stored in the powder container, a container shutter configured to open and close the discharge port, a first rotation portion configured to be engageable with an engagement portion of a removable component, an operation device configured to rotate the first rotation portion in conjunction with an operation of the operation device, and a contact portion included in the first rotation portion. The engagement portion opens and closes a cartridge shutter to open and close an inlet port of the removable component. A restriction member of the removable component is configured to restrict the rotation of the engagement portion. The contact portion contacts the restriction member to cancel the restriction member from restricting rotation of the engagement portion in conjunction with attachment of the powder container to the removable component.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: an image formation unit; an apparatus main body including therein the image formation unit; a cover rotatable about a first rotation axis to open and close the apparatus main body; an exposure unit including an exposure head; and a holding member fixed to an inner surface of the cover and holds the exposure unit. The holding member includes a first support portion at a side of the holding member closer to the first rotation axis and a second support portion at a side of the holding member farther from the first rotation axis. The first support portion supports the exposure unit to be rotatable, about a second rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis, and the second support portion supports the exposure unit to be swingable in directions closer to and away from the inner surface of the cover.

Abstract: An electrophotographic member including: a base member; an elastic layer having a thickness of from 100 ?m to 500 ?m, and containing a cured product of an addition-curable silicone rubber composition; and a cured product layer arranged between the base member and the elastic layer, the cured product layer containing a cured product of a composition containing an organopolysiloxane having a Si—H group and a silane coupling agent having an alkenyl group. A peel adhesive strength between the elastic layer and the base member is a specific range. The elastic layer undergoes a cohesive failure in a peel test from the base member. The ratio (HU2/HU1) of a universal hardness HU2 on the inner surface of the elastic layer to a universal hardness HU1 at a position reached by cutting the elastic layer from its outer surface in its depth direction by 10 ?m is a specific range.