Abstract: A developing cartridge is placed on a supporting member such that a lengthwise direction of the developing cartridge is inclined with respect to the vertical and horizontal directions, collecting toner remaining in the developing cartridge at the lowest part in the developing cartridge. Then, a suction tube is inserted into a toner chamber of the developing cartridge and sucks up toner remaining in the developing cartridge.

Abstract: A process cartridge is capable of being carried on a movable guide, which is movable relative to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and which is provided in the main assembly. The movable guide is movable from a receiving position toward a mount position in interrelation with movement of the movable guide. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, a cartridge frame, and first, second, and third positioning portions. The third positioning portion has a first rotation stopper surface for stopping rotation of the cartridge about the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion by abutting the movable guide.

Abstract: A developer container storing a developer of the present invention includes a developer outlet formed in the side wall thereof, and a shutter member for selectively opening or closing the developer outlet. The shutter member opens the developer outlet when the developer container is mounted to the body of an image forming apparatus or closes it when the former is dismounted from the latter. The toner container with this configuration surely prevents the developer from leaking when the developer container is dismounted from an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container divided into a developing section and a mixing section in which developer is conveyed in the opposite directions. A conveying member which conveys the developer in the longitudinal direction is disposed only in the developing section, and a mixing member which does not positively convey the developer in the longitudinal direction is disposed in the mixing section.

Abstract: A transfer device transfers a visual image from an image carrier to a recording medium. The transfer device includes a first transfer element that moves and receives the visual image from the image carrier on a first surface of the first transfer element, a second transfer element provided opposite to the first surface of the first transfer element to pinch and convey the recording medium through a secondary transfer nip part, a facing roller provided on a second surface of the first transfer element opposite to the first surface thereof, and a constant-current power supply that applies an electric current voltage to a core metal of the facing roller to transfer the visual image from the first transfer element to the recording medium. The electric current voltage applied to the core metal has a polarity equal to a polarity of the visual image and is subjected to a constant-current control.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has an image forming portion capable of forming an image on a transferring medium by the use of a hypochromatic toner and a hyperchromatic toner of substantially the same color. The image forming portion is provided with a developing device for developing with the hypochromatic toner and the hyperchromatic toner, wherein, in an image area in which the hyperchromatic toner and the hypochromatic toner are mixedly present, the recording rate of the hyperchromatic toner is 1/16, the minimum size Wmini of a toner image of the hyperchromatic toner is 50 ?m or less on the transferring medium. Thereby, it is achieved to reduce graininess.

Abstract: A color electrostatographic printer apparatus applies respective color separation toner images to a receiver member to form a color image. A fuser assembly fuses the color image. A clear toner overcoat is then applied to the fused color toner image using a generic inverse mask that is based on receiver member characteristic. Enhanced glossing of the image is provided by a belt glosser that also improves color gamut. A generic color profile that is based on receiver member characteristics is provided to ensure color accuracy.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed, a plurality of developing devices for developing the latent image, each of the developing devices containing developer, and a turnable turning member on which the plurality of developing devices are mounted. The turning member is caused to turn based on a turn history of the turning member.

Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a heating device which heats the image formed on the recording material, and a pressure roller which forms a nip portion in cooperation with the heating device, with the recording material being conveyed in the nip portion. The pressure roller has a heat resistive rubber in which acicular fillers with a thermal conductivity of more than 300 W/mK are dispersed in a rate of 12 to 26 volume percentage. An image heating apparatus is achieved which prevents increasing the temperature at the area through which a recording material does not pass.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming stations and a transferring device. Each image forming station includes an image carrier for carrying an electrostatic image and a developing device for developing the electrostatic image with toner. The transferring device transfers toner images formed by the plurality of image forming stations to a transferring medium. The plurality of image forming stations include a transparent image forming station using transparent toner and color image forming stations using, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively. The transparent image forming station includes a cleaning device that is in contact with the image carrier and picks up residual toner on the image carrier. The developing devices of the color image forming stations develop electrostatic images on the corresponding image carriers and simultaneously pick up residual toners on the corresponding image carriers.

Abstract: A biasing mechanism in an image forming apparatus exerts a variable force on a removable cartridge unit to generate a nip force between a roller in the cartridge unit and another roller. A pivot member is fixed to the apparatus housing. An arm is pivotally mounted in the housing about the pivot member, with the arm in contact with a protrusion on the cartridge unit. A force generating member is mounted in the housing and contacts the arm so as to urge the arm to pivot about the pivot member and press against the cartridge unit. The resulting force exerted on the cartridge unit by the arm varies according to the point of contact between the cartridge unit and the arm. In some embodiments, the arm and the cartridge unit protrusion are electrically conductive, and an electrical contact is established as the arm is pressed against the protrusion.

Abstract: A developing method of the present invention is practicable with a developing unit of the type including a rotatable, nonmagnetic sleeve and a rigid metering member. A two ingredient type developer made up of magnetic carrier grains and toner grains is magnetically deposited on the sleeve. The metering member meters the amount of the developer deposited on the sleeve. The sleeve has surface roughness Rz ranging from 5 ?m to 20 ?m. The carrier grains each are covered with a coating layer containing at least binder resin and grains. The ratio of the diameter D of the individual grain contained in the coating layer to the thickness h of the binder resin layer lies in the range of 1<D/h<10. The carrier grains have a weight-mean grain size ranging from 20 ?m to 60 ?m.

Abstract: The developing apparatus which develops a latent image formed on an photosensitive drum by a toner is provided with a developing roller which bears the toner, and an RS roller abutting against to this developing roller so as to perform the removal and supply of the toner on the photosensitive drum, and at the same time, is provided with adjusting means which adjusts a pushed-in amount for the developing roller of the RS roller according to the characteristic of the RS roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming device for forming an image on a recording material; a heating member heating the image formed on the recording material in a nip portion; an endless belt conveying the recording material toward the nip portion formed between itself and the heating member; a contacting and separating device for bringing the heating member and the belt into the contact with each other and for separating the heating member and the belt from each other; and a detection device for detecting the temperature of the belt. If the detected temperature of the belt reaches a predetermined temperature, an image formation job is interrupted, and the heating member and the belt are separated.

Abstract: A liquid-type image forming apparatus has a printing engine including a developing unit and a transferring unit and a fixing member. The apparatus includes a carrier vapor-processing device having an oxidation catalyst carrier that accelerates oxidation of carrier vapors occurring in the fixing member. A temperature sensor detects a temperature of the oxidation catalyst carrier. A control member compares information measured by the temperature sensor, and compares the information with predetermined reference values. The printing operation of the printing engine is controlled according to the result of the comparison.

Abstract: An oxidation catalyst unit for judging a life span of an oxidation catalyst and a wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the oxidation catalyst unit, and a method of judging the life span of the oxidation catalyst. The oxidation catalyst unit includes a duct unit, a fan motor, a heater, an oxidation catalyst filter, and a temperature sensing unit. The temperature sensing unit senses upper and lower atmospheric temperatures of the oxidation catalyst filter. A controller of the wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the oxidation catalyst unit then compares data on the upper and lower atmosphere temperatures sensed by the temperature sensing unit with input reference data to judge the life span of the oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: The invention prevents cracking of heater that may occur when a fixing device becomes uncontrollable and provides an image forming apparatus that is advantageous from the viewpoint of recycling of parts. A heater support member that supports a heater during abnormal temperature rise is provided at a position at which a heater holder deforms greatly when abnormal temperature rise of the heater occurs.

Abstract: A transfer unit mounting device of an image forming apparatus to mount and dismount a transfer unit in and from the image forming apparatus. The transfer unit includes a transfer belt driven by a plurality of rollers, and a housing to protect the transfer belt. The transfer unit mounting device includes at least one damping unit to elastically support the transfer unit to prevent a shock from being transferred to the transfer unit when the transfer unit is mounted.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a first unit including at least an image-bearing member, a second unit including at least a developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on the image-bearing member, and a connector for separably connecting the first unit and the second unit with each other, which permits integral mounting and demounting of the first and second units relative to the image forming apparatus. The second unit has a life which substantially equals to the life of the image forming apparatus, and the first unit is replaceable by separation thereof from the second unit outside the image forming apparatus.