Abstract: An object of the invention is to accurately grasp the fluidity of a developer and give proper feedback to an image forming process. An image forming device has a developing unit developing a latent image by transferring a developer to an image carrier, a fluidity measuring unit measuring fluidity of the developer, a correction amount computing unit computing a fluidity correction amount for correcting the fluidity of the developer measured by the fluidity measuring unit, and a process control unit changing a process condition of an image forming process. The process control unit selects, on the basis of the fluidity of the developer corrected based on the fluidity correction amount, an image forming process of changing a process condition from a plurality of image forming processes.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a storage medium; a first holder; a second holder; and a coupling. The developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the casing in a first direction. The first holder has an outer surface at which an electrical contact surface of the storage medium is held. The second holder is positioned away from the first holder in a direction crossing the electrical contact surface. The first holder and the second holder are movable relative to the casing and the coupling between a first position and a second position in the first direction. The second position is closer to the developing roller than the first position. A portion of the coupling is positioned between the first holder and the second holder in a case where the first holder and the second holder are positioned at the second position.

Abstract: A contact point end portion of a second ring connected to a first ring portion on a power reception portion side protrudes further in the direction of a power reception portion than a contact point end portion of the first ring connected to a spring portion on a power reception portion side.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt and a rotatable member configured to form a nip for heating a toner image on a recording material therebetween, a substantially stationary pad member and a movable pad member provided along a feeding direction of the recording material and configured to press the endless belt toward the rotatable member from an inside of the endless belt, a moving mechanism configured to move the movable pad member between a first position at which the movable pad member presses the endless belt toward the rotatable member and a second position at which the movable pad member does not press the endless belt toward the rotatable member, and a sheet-like member configured to cover such a surface of the stationary pad member as is opposite to the rotatable member and such a surface of the movable pad member as is opposite to the rotatable member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that forms on a recording material a toner image based on input image information; a fixer that fixes a toner image formed on the recording material; and a hardware processor that controls the image former and the fixer in which the hardware processor controls the image former to supply, to a region where no toner is provided between toner images based on the input image information, complementing toner having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of toner for forming the toner image based on input image information.

Abstract: A control unit performs control to satisfy TVa<T TVb, where T is a time from a point when irradiation with light by a pre-exposure member is started to a point when a predetermined portion of the photosensitive member which is located at the pre-exposure position when the irradiation is started reaches a charging position, TVa is a time from the point when the irradiation is started to a point when application of a first voltage is started, and TVb is a time from the point when the irradiation is started to a point when application of the second voltage is started.

Abstract: The image-forming apparatus includes multiple developing units that form images using multiple color developers, an image carrier that, in color displacement detection, carries the developers transferred thereon at mutually different image-carrying positions, an optical sensor that projects a light to the image carrier and receives a reflected light from the image carrier, and an acquirer that acquires, in response to output from the optical sensor, passage times at which the developers on the image carrier respectively pass a detection position. The optical sensor receives a diffusively reflected light from a non-transferred area of the image carrier on which the developers are not transferred. The acquirer acquires the passage times of all the developers, in response to changes in the output from the optical sensor at an output level higher than that corresponding to a diffusively reflected light from the developers on the image carrier.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes first and second rotary members. The first rotary member is rotatable from a first position to a second position and from the second position to a third position, and includes a first gear part and a first rib. The first rib extends along an addendum circle of the first gear part. The second rotary member includes a second gear part and a second rib protruding outward in a radial direction of the second rotary member. The second rib is in contact the first rib during rotation of the first rotary member from the first position toward the second position. The second rib is separated from the first rib during rotation of the first rotary member from the second position toward the third position.

Abstract: A main casing includes a driving source, a first sheet passage sensor for detecting a sheet, and a detecting sensor. A drum cartridge is detachably mounted on the main casing. The drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum being rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction; a first detection gear being rotatable by receiving driving force from the driving source; and a first detection protrusion being rotatable together with the first detection gear. The first detection protrusion is arranged to contact the first sheet passage sensor. A developing cartridge is detachably mounted on the drum cartridge. The developing cartridge includes: a developing roller; a second detection gear being rotatable by receiving driving force from the driving source; and a second detection protrusion being rotatable together with the second detection gear. The second detection protrusion is arranged to contact the detecting sensor.

Abstract: A fixation apparatus includes a rotatable fixation belt, a pressurization roller which is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the fixation belt and rotates the fixation belt, a pressing member which is provided to face the pressurization roller with the fixation belt being interposed and presses the fixation belt against the pressurization roller, a heating roller which provides heat to paper which passes through a portion of contact between the fixation belt and the pressurization roller by providing heat to the fixation belt, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting an amount of attachment of a lubricant to an inner circumferential surface of the fixation belt. The adjustment mechanism adjusts the amount of attachment of the lubricant such that an amount of attachment of the lubricant while the fixation belt remains stopped is smaller than an amount of attachment of the lubricant during rotation of the fixation belt.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a fixing portion, an exterior member, a first ventilation guide, a second ventilation guide, and a blowing portion. The exterior member has a first opening portion opened to an outside. The first ventilation guide is disposed between the fixing portion and the exterior member. The first ventilation guide forms a first space communicating with the first opening portion between the first ventilation guide and the exterior member. The second ventilation guide is disposed between the fixing portion and the first ventilation guide, and has a second opening portion. The second ventilation guide forms a second space communicating with the second opening portion between the second ventilation guide and the first ventilation guide.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion configured to accommodate developer, and a discharge opening configured and positioned to permit discharging of the developer in the developer accommodating portion, with the discharge opening having an area not more than 12.6 mm2. In addition, a driving force receiving portion is configured and positioned to receive a driving force, and a pump portion is configured and positioned to act on the developer accommodating portion by the driving force received by the driving force receiving portion to alternately change an internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion between a pressure lower than an ambient pressure and a pressure higher than the ambient pressure to discharge the developer through the discharge opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image former which forms an image on an image carrying member with toner stored in a storage, a toner supplier which supplies toner to the storage by driving a conveyance member, a density measurer which causes the image former to form an image having a predetermined density at a predetermined timing and measures density of the formed image, a corrector which corrects a driving amount of the conveyance member based on the density measured by the density measurer, and a changer which changes a timing when the density measurer measures the density in response to an event that a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light-receiving unit that includes light-receiving elements arranged along a movement direction of a target formed on an image carrier, and is arranged so as to receive light emitted from a light-emitting unit and specularly reflected off the image carrier; a member configured to limit a size, in the movement direction, of diffused reflection light that is incident on the light-receiving unit; a selection unit configured to select whether or not each of the light-receiving elements in the light-receiving unit is an effective light-receiving element; a generation unit configured to generate a detection signal from an output of the effective light-receiving element; and a detection unit configured to detect a target formed on the image carrier based on the detection signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device that forms an image on a sheet; a fixing device that fixes the image to the sheet; a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the fixing device; a conveyance guide located at a predetermined position that blocks wind flowing into the fixing device; a detector that detects the sheet passing through the conveyance guide; and a hardware processor that switches the conveyance guide to the predetermined position based on a detection result of the detector.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, a deflecting unit, a reflection mirror, a casing, and first and second leaf springs. The casing includes first and second mirror supporting portions and a facing portion. The following relationship is satisfied: D2<L+W?D1. With respect to a longitudinal direction, L is a length of the reflection mirror, D1 is a longest distance between the first and second supporting portions, W is a contact width of the second supporting portion to the reflection mirror, and D2 is a distance between the facing portion and a closest position thereto of the first supporting portion. The first and second leaf springs urge the reflection mirror against the first and second mirror supporting portions, respectively. At least one of the first and second leaf springs is bonded to the reflection mirror with an adhesive.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developer container; a developing roller; an unsealing mechanism; a first rotary body; a second rotary body; and a delayed transmission mechanism. The developer container is sealed to accommodate developer. The unsealing mechanism unseals the developer container. The first rotary body is provided at the unsealing mechanism. A drive force from a drive source is transmitted to the first rotary body and the second rotary body. The second rotary body transmits the drive force to the developing roller. The delayed transmission mechanism delays transmission of the drive force to the second rotary body for at least a prescribed time after transmission of the drive force to the first rotary body is initiated. The prescribed time is equivalent to a time that elapses from a moment the unsealing mechanism begins rotating to a moment the unsealing mechanism has unsealed the developer container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light-receiving unit that includes light-receiving elements arranged along a movement direction of a target formed on an image carrier, and is arranged so as to receive light emitted from a light-emitting unit and specularly reflected off the image carrier; a member configured to limit a size, in the movement direction, of diffused reflection light that is incident on the light-receiving unit; a selection unit configured to select whether or not each of the light-receiving elements in the light-receiving unit is an effective light-receiving element; a generation unit configured to generate a detection signal from an output of the effective light-receiving element; and a detection unit configured to detect a target formed on the image carrier based on the detection signal.

Abstract: A signal transmitting apparatus includes a first line that is provided in one of plural layers of a board and transmits a signal by superimposing the signal on an electric power line that supplies electric power; a coupling section in which the electric power line is coupled to the first line and the first line is branched; plural second lines that branch off in the coupling section and are provided in another layer different from the one layer; and a conductive layer that is provided between the one layer and the other layer. The conductive layer has an opening that encompasses the coupling section in plan view, and the coupling section has a coupling line that has a larger width than the first line and plural through-holes that connect the coupling line and the plural second lines through the opening of the conductive layer.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a plurality of development sections arranged in an axis direction of a developer bearing member; a communication section disposed at a boundary of adjacent two development sections of the development sections, and configured to communicate between the two development sections; and a control section configured to perform an operation of moving the developer between the two development sections through the communication section to equalize degradation states of the developer in the two development sections.