Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image carriers on each surface of which an electrostatic latent image is formed, each of the image carriers being attachable and detachable; a plurality of development units each adhering a toner to the electrostatic latent image carried on corresponding one of the image carriers, the development units adhering toners that are different from each other, a plurality of transfer units that transfer the toners adhering to the image carriers to a recording medium; an order detection unit that detects an arrangement order of the loaded image carriers; and an image formation condition setting unit that sets an image formation condition for at least one of the developing unit and each of the image carriers based on the arrangement order detected by the order detection unit.

Abstract: A first rotary image carrier is adapted to support a toner image obtained by developing an electrostatic latent image formed thereon. A second rotary image carrier is adapted to support, on a toner supporting face thereof, the toner image which has been primarily transferred from the first rotary image carrier and is to be secondarily transferred onto a recording medium. A cleaner housing has wall members defining a housing space, a first one of which is formed with a first ventilation hole. A blade member is disposed in the housing space and configured to separatably come in contact with the second rotary image carrier to scrape off toner remaining thereon. A sealing member is disposed in the housing space and configured to separatably come in contact with the second rotary image carrier to form a closed space together with the blade member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: a developer moving element that moves developer in order to transfer the developer onto a medium by rotating with the developer being borne on the developer moving element; and a collector for collecting the developer that has not been transferred onto the medium and remains on the developer moving element, the collector having a scraper blade that can abut against and separate from the developer moving element and that is for scraping off the developer on the developer moving element by abutting against the developer moving element, a sealing member that can contact with and separate from the developer moving element and that is for preventing, by contacting the developer moving element, the developer from spilling outside the collector, a ventilation opening for moving air in the collector outside the collector, and a valve for adjusting an amount of air passing through the ventilation opening, and the collector being made such that when either one of the scraper blade

Abstract: A laser printer is provided which includes a conveying belt, which is configured for circulating movement and which indirectly supports developer over a recording medium. Furthermore, a cleaning roller which contacts the outer surface of the conveying belt and an opposing roller which faces the cleaning roller are provided. The opposing roller is arranged opposite the cleaning roller across the conveying belt, holding the belt between itself and the cleaning roller. The opposing roller is configured to rotate so as to impart motive force to the conveying belt.

Abstract: A heat roller of an image forming apparatus is capable of preventing a terminal from being broken and improving contact performance of the terminal. The heat roller includes a heat transfer pipe, a heat generating body disposed at the heat transfer pipe and generating heat, a terminal to apply power to the heat generating body, and an end cap connected to the heat transfer pipe, and having a groove such that the terminal is smoothly inserted without forced bending.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recoding-medium stacking portion, a recording-medium ejecting portion and a auctioning/exhausting unit. The recording-medium ejecting portion ejects a recording medium on which an image is formed, to the recording-medium stacking portion. The suctioning/exhausting unit suctions air in a vicinity of the recording-medium ejecting portion. The suctioning/exhausting unit exhausts the suctioned air though a filter to an outside of a main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A drive connection mechanism has a sliding unit which is fixed to a drive shaft extending through the photoconductive drum, a convex coupling gear which has three coupling members fixed slidably to splines formed in the periphery of the sliding unit, a compressing spring which energizes the coupling gar, and a concave coupling gear which is provided in the drum to receive and fit the convex coupling gear. When the convex coupling gear is pressed to the concave coupling gear, a force from the tapered surface to the inside acts on each coupling member. Then, the bevel gear of the convex coupling gear is stuck to the bevel gear of the concave coupling gear, the internal gears of the convex coupling gear is stuck to the splines of the drive shaft, and the centers of the drive shaft and photoconductive drum are aligned.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a process unit having a developer container for containing a developer; an apparatus main body having an opening and a unit accommodation section into which the process unit is inserted through the opening and detachably accommodated; and a cover for closing the opening in a state that the process unit is accommodated in the unit accommodation section, the cover being integrally provided with the process unit.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of mounting an internal unit in a main body chassis thereof, in which a position of a sheet conveying portion for conveying a sheet to the internal unit, with respect to the internal unit is adjusted by a first adjustment portion, and a position of a sheet discharge portion which discharges the sheet having an image formed thereon, with respect to the internal unit is adjusted by a second adjustment portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt that has an elastic layer to which a toner image on an image carrier developed using a liquid developer is primarily transferred, a cleaning roller that cleans an extraneous material remaining on the intermediate transfer belt after secondary transfer, and a coating member that coats the intermediate transfer belt with a cleaning liquid.

Abstract: A toner repelling stripper finger assembly is provided for stripping toner image carrying copy sheets from an outer surface of a moving heated fusing member. The toner repelling stripper finger assembly includes (a) a finger shaft having a first end for attaching to a baffle, and a second distal end; (c) an electrically conductive tip located at the second distal end of the finger shaft for contacting the outer surface of the moving heated fusing member to strip the toner image carrying copy sheets therefrom; and (d) an electrical biasing source connected to the electrically conductive tip for electrically biasing the electrically conductive tip to a desired electrical polarity, thereby repelling and preventing charged toner particles from being attracted and building up on the stripper finger assembly.

Abstract: A process cartridge is described. The process cartridge may include a developing unit and a toner unit detachably mountable to the developing unit. The developing unit includes a developer casing provided with an accommodating section for accommodating the toner unit. The toner unit includes a toner casing and an agitating member in the toner casing. The developer casing includes a first fixing member and a second fixing member opposite side of the first fixing member in relation to the accommodating section. The toner casing includes a first fixed portion received by and fixed to the first fixing member; and a second fixed portion disposed at the opposite side of the first fixed portion in relation to a rotation shaft of the agitating member and fixed to the second fixing member when the toner unit is attached to the developing unit.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a housing; an endless belt; a plurality of process units; and a plurality of scanner units. Each scanner unit and each process unit are inclined obliquely to a vertical direction. At least a part of each process unit is inserted into and removed from the housing in an obliquely inclined direction.

Abstract: For an image forming apparatus, a transfer fixing apparatus and a transfer fixing method fix a toner image onto a record medium. The fixing apparatus and the image forming apparatus have a structure to reduce adverse heat influences impacting on an intermediate transfer member, and can further reduce vibrations generated to the intermediate transfer member and to a recording medium onto which a visualized image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member. Further, a heating value and a heat distribution in the fixing apparatus can be controlled to be optimized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention includes a photoconductor, an exposure unit to expose the photoconductor, a developing unit to develop the photoconductor to form a developed image, a transfer unit to transfer the developed image onto a transfer-receiving member, an image patch creation unit to create an image patch including a minute point, a sensor unit to detect density information of a developed image of the image patch formed on the photoconductor or a transfer image of the image patch formed on the transfer-receiving member, and a picture quality maintaining control unit to change, in a case where the density information detected by the sensor unit is outside a range of a specified reference density, an exposure parameter for forming an image of the minute point so that the density information falls within the range of the specified reference density.

Abstract: To generate a toner cloud in a development system, a first potential is applied to a donor roll for a first pulse time to project toner from the donor roll toward a photoreceptor; a second potential is applied to the donor roll for a second pulse time to slow the speed at which the toner is projected toward the photoreceptor; a third potential is applied to the donor roll for a third pulse time to hold toner between the donor roll and the photoreceptor; and a fourth potential is applied to the donor roll for a fourth pulse time to urge undeveloped toner to the surface of the donor roll. Voltages may also be applied for selectivity removing toner from a donor roll.

Abstract: A developing unit for an image forming apparatus including an agent carrying member, a supply compartment, a supply screw, a recovery compartment, a recovery screw, an agitation compartment, and an agitation screw. The agent carrying member carries and supplies developing agent to an image carrying member. The supply screw in the supply compartment supplies the developing agent to the agent carrying member. The recovery screw in the recovery compartment, provided under the agent carrying member, transports the developing agent dropped from the agent carrying member. The agitation screw in the agitation compartment receives the developing agent from the supply compartment and recovery compartment, and transports the developing agent to the supply compartment. The recovery compartment, supply compartment, and agitation compartment are provided side-by-side in a horizontal direction. A magnetic flux density in a given area of the agent carrying member is set to 10 mT or less.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing toner in an electrostatographic printer includes an apparatus for transporting powder into a developer station containing at least powder and magnetic carrier including a conveyance housing divided into a mixing space adjacent to a second separate transport space, the second transport space located adjacent to a development roller, a powder conveying device located in the conveyance housing comprising two or more augers and a conveyance controller for controlling the powder conveying device, including the one or more augers, such that the auger preferentially mixes in the first mixing space and transports in the second transport space as the powder conveying device conveys the powder toward the imaging device of a print engine.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a moving speed ratio change section which changes a circumferential speed ratio between a surface of a developer bearing member and a surface of an image carrier; and a memory section which stores a target value of fog toner. After the circumferential speed ratio has been changed by the moving speed ratio change section, a controller determines a fog control parameter based on comparing the value detected by the fog toner detection section with the target value stored in the memory section. After then, and the controller controls the moving speed ratio change section to return the circumferential speed ratio to the circumferential speed ratio prior to the change.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to control power supplied to a paper transfer belt (PTB) unit and a laser scanning unit (LSU) included in an image forming device includes the PTB unit to transfer a developed latent image onto a printing medium, the LSU to scan light onto a photosensitive medium, a first controller to control power supplied to the PTB unit and the LSU, and a connection unit to connect the PTB unit to the first controller, wherein the first controller controls the power supplied to the LSU according to a connection state of the connection unit.