Abstract: A photosensitive drum is rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction. A frame includes a first side plate located at first end in the first direction and a second side plate spaced from the first side plate in the first direction. The frame rotatably supports the photosensitive drum between the first side plate and the second side plate in the first direction. The frame holds a developer cartridge. A lock lever is pivotable about a pivot axis extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The lock lever is movable between a lock position at which the developer cartridge is locked on the frame and a release position at which the developer cartridge is unlocked from the frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus controls a first image forming unit and a second image forming unit to form a plurality of pattern images. The plurality of pattern images includes a first pattern image formed by the first image forming unit, a second pattern image formed by the second image forming unit, a plurality of third pattern images that are formed by the first image forming unit and have different tones from one another, and a plurality of fourth pattern images that are formed by the second image forming unit and have different tones from one another. The image forming apparatus obtains data that has been output from a sensor and is related to the plurality of pattern images, and generates the conversion condition based on the data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads an image of an original document, an image processing unit that processes image data of the image read by the image reading unit, and a suspension unit that suspends, if a predetermined pattern has been detected from the image read by the image reading unit, the image processing unit in an operation of processing the image data until the original document is removed from the image reading unit.

Abstract: A cartridge comprises a frame including a chamber, a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, a first coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum such that a rotational force can be transmitted from the first coupling member to the photosensitive drum, and a second coupling member provided adjacent to an opening in the cartridge. The chamber is in fluid communication with the opening, with the second coupling member forming at least a part of the passageway through which toner can move from the chamber to the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of members for forming an image; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a sonic wave; a receiving unit configured to receive a first sonic wave that has been transmitted from the transmitting unit and has passed through a sheet and a second sonic wave that is generated from at least one of the plurality of members; a detection unit configured to detect information regarding a type or state of the sheet based on the first sonic wave; and a determination unit configured to determine a state of a member that has generated the second sonic wave based on the second sonic wave.

Abstract: A mode controller outputs a characteristic value according to a DC component of a developing current measured by an ammeter at a predetermined measurement timing. The measurement timing is defined as a timing at which a non-image forming region of a surface of a photosensitive drum is located opposite to a developing roller in the entirety of an axial direction and an electric field in a direction in which a toner moves from the photosensitive drum toward the developing roller by a potential difference between a surface potential of the photosensitive drum and the DC component of a developing bias is formed in a developing nip part. A determining section determines an execution timing for a charge amount acquisition operation according to the characteristic value output by the mode controller.

Abstract: A management system includes a printing apparatus replaceably holding a first and a second replaceable item, and a management server. The printing apparatus includes a transmission unit that transmits identification data indicating identification information on the printing apparatus and data including a value related to a usage amount of the second replaceable item. The management server includes an acquisition unit that acquires a value related to a previous usage amount of the second replaceable item from a memory based on the identification data from the printing apparatus. The management server includes a determination unit that makes a determination about a delivery instruction of the first replaceable item based on the value related to the usage amount of the second replaceable item, which is transmitted from the printing apparatus, and the value related to the previous usage amount of the second replaceable item, which is acquired from the memory.

Abstract: A developing device includes a casing containing a housing chamber and having a developer outlet port to discharge excess developer from the housing chamber. A developer roll is disposed in the housing chamber, to carry a developer. The developing device includes an airflow passage to allow air to flow in from the housing chamber when the developer roll rotates. The developing device further includes a radiation member located adjacent the housing chamber to transfer heat to the air flowing through the airflow passage.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, including an optical scanning device, wherein the optical scanning device includes: a holding member configured to integrally hold a first cleaning member and a second cleaning member; a first guide member configured to guide a movement of the holding member; a second guide member configured to guide a movement of the holding member; a first groove portion; a second groove portion, and wherein when the holding member moves from end portions of the first guide portion and the second guide portion to an opposite side with respect to a central portion side and a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion of the holding member respectively pass in the first groove portion and the second groove portion, engagements of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion with the first guide portion and the second guide portion are released.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a lubricant application device to apply a lubricant to a photoreceptor surface of the image forming apparatus, and a lubricant residual amount detector to detect a residual amount of the lubricant. The residual amount of the lubricant is compared to a predetermined amount, and a charging device charges the photoreceptor surface by selectively applying a DC voltage of varying voltage to the photoreceptor surface in response to the comparison of the residual amount of the lubricant to the predetermined amount.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus enables communication with an image forming apparatus and includes a controller configured to acquire data related to a consumption amount of a consumable in the image forming apparatus, determine, based on the data, a future change of a remaining amount of the consumable, output a delivery request for a replacement consumable based on the future change of the remaining amount of the consumable, and detect an abnormality from the data. Information is displayed for prompting to stock a spare replacement consumable based on a result of the detection of the abnormality.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing, a developing roller, a first agitator, a supply roller, and a second agitator. The casing is configured to accommodate toner. The developing roller is rotatable about a developing roller rotation axis extending in a first direction. The first agitator is configured to agitate the toner. The first agitator is rotatable about a first agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. The supply roller is positioned between the first agitator and the developing roller. The supply roller is rotatable about a supply roller rotation axis extending in the first direction. The second agitator is positioned between the supply roller and the first agitator. The second agitator is rotatable about a second agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. A rotation locus of the second agitator is positioned outside of a rotation locus of the first agitator.

Abstract: A fuser has a heater, a heat roller, an endless belt, a pressure pad, and a slidable sheet. The pressure pad forms a nipping portion to nip the endless belt between the pressure pad and the heat roller. The slidable sheet is interposed between an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and the pressure pad in the nipping portion. The slidable sheet includes a plurality of dents and a plurality of projections on a surface contacting the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The plurality of dents are arranged in a first part of the surface of the slidable sheet. The first part is located in a range corresponding to the nipping portion. The plurality of projections are arranged in a second part of the surface of the slidable sheet. The second part is located in a range corresponding to a portion different from the nipping portion.

Abstract: A belt device includes a belt configured to rotate, a plurality of stretch rollers configured to stretch the belt wound around the plurality of stretch rollers, and a belt alignment mechanism configured to align the belt. At least one of the plurality of stretch rollers has a diameter at a center greater than diameters at both ends in an axial direction of the at least one of the plurality of stretch rollers. The diameter at the center and the diameters at both ends are different from a diameter of the other of the plurality of stretch rollers.

Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed in a staggered manner in an apparatus body.

Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.

Abstract: A deviation detection device to detect a deviation of a rotator includes a contact member disposed in contact with the rotator and configured to move, following a deviation of the rotator in a width direction of the rotator. The deviation detection device further includes a deviation detector configured to detect a direction of the deviation and a deviation amount of the rotator based on a displacement of the contact member, and a wear detector configured to detect a state in which an amount of wear of the contact member has reached a threshold.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge may include a first handle positioned at a first end of a frame of the drum cartridge. The developing cartridge may include a second handle positioned at a first end of a developing casing the developing cartridge. The main casing may include a first edge surface in the axial direction and a second edge surface opposite the first edge surface in the axial direction. The second handle may extend farther from the second edge surface than the first handle extends from the second edge surface in the axial direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the main casing.

Abstract: A fixing device comprises a cylindrical sheet heating body for heating a sheet; a heat generation section which includes a center heat element that generates heat in a central area, a first heat element that generates heat in a first area containing an end in the length direction, and a second heat element that generates heat in a second area between the central area and the first area; a center temperature measurement section which measures a temperature of a portion of the sheet heating body; a both-end temperature measurement section which measures a temperature of the sheet heating body at a destination by moving in the length direction; and a power controller configured to control electric power to be supplied to the center heat element, to the first heat element, and to the second heat element according to the center temperature measurement section and the both-end temperature measurement section.

Abstract: A drive transmission device according to an embodiment may include: a driving shaft configured to be rotated by a driving source; a driven shaft; and a coupling device including a driving side coupling connected to the driving shaft and a driven side coupling connected to the driven shaft, and configured to selectively couple the driving shaft and the driven shaft with each other to transmit a rotation of the driving shaft to the driven shaft. The driving side coupling may include an Oldham's coupling including a driving side rotor, an intermediate rotor, and a driven side rotor and configured to absorb an eccentricity between the driving shaft and the driven shaft, wherein the driving side coupling further comprises a bias member provided inside of the driving side coupling, the bias member biasing the driven side rotor toward the driven side coupling.