Abstract: A fixing apparatus comprising: a fixing film having an endless shape, a pressurizing member disposed to face the fixing film and configured to form a nip with the fixing film, and a heating member disposed inside of the fixing film, having a facing surface facing an inner circumferential surface of the fixing film, and configured to bias the fixing film against the pressurizing member, and a fluorine grease interposed between the inner circumferential surface and the facing surface, wherein the fixing film has at least a base layer, an elastic layer, and a surface layer in this order, the surface layer comprises a PFA, the surface layer comprises a plurality of spherulites of the PFA, and in an endothermic curve measured with a specific condition by a DSC, using a sample sampled from the surface layer, an endothermic quantity in a temperature rising process is 21 J/g or more.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a rotary member, a pressure member configured to form a fixing nip, a heater disposed in an internal space of the rotary member, the heater including a substrate, and a heating element provided on the substrate and configured to heat the rotary member by being energized, a heater holder configured to hold the heater, and a heat conducting member disposed between the heater and the heater holder. The fixing nip conveys the sheet in a direction parallel to a short direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the heater. The heater includes a protrusion extending toward the heater holder from a surface, of the heater, provided on a side opposite to the fixing nip. The protrusion faces the heat conducting member in the longitudinal direction and is disposed so as not to overlap the heat conducting member as viewed in the short direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing, a fixing device, and a spring. The fixing device is attachable to the main body casing from one side toward an other side in a first direction. The main body casing includes a first recessed portion recessed toward one side in a second direction crossing the first direction. The fixing device includes a first boss extending in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction. The first boss is configured to be inserted in the first recessed portion in a state where the fixing device is attached to the main body casing. The spring is configured to press, in the state where the fixing device is attached to the main body casing, the first boss inserted in the first recessed portion toward the one side in the first direction and the one side in the second direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an image-forming apparatus and a phase match method of photosensitive parts. The image-forming apparatus includes a first motor, configured to rotate a first photosensitive part; a second motor, configured to rotate a second photosensitive part; a first phase sensor, configured to detect a first rotation phase of the first photosensitive part; a second phase sensor, configured to detect a second rotation phase of the second photosensitive part; and a control unit, configured to, after at least one page of image-forming job is received and at least one of the first motor and the second motor receives a phase match instruction, perform phase match on the first photosensitive part and the second photosensitive part according to a rotation phase of a photosensitive part corresponding to a motor receiving the phase match instruction.

Abstract: A cartridge to contain a developer includes a developing roller to carry the developer and a fur-brush type supplying roller to form a nip region with the developing roller to supply the developer to the developing roller. A surface layer of the developing roller includes a groove formed on the surface layer to come into contact with the fur-brush type supplying roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, an exposing unit to expose a surface of the photosensitive member, and a developing member to supply toner with normal polarity at a developing portion. A controller, during a non-image formation when a toner image is not formed on a surface of the photosensitive member, controls such that a developing voltage is changed in a predetermined voltage width by applying a first developing voltage while the area of the photosensitive member on which a first surface potential is formed passes through the developing portion and by applying a second developing potential of an opposite polarity side rather than the first developing voltage while the area of the photosensitive member on which a second surface potential is formed passes through the developing portion, and the controller controls such that the surface potential becomes a side of the normal polarity rather than the first developing voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a fixing device and a controller. The fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a heating member, and a temperature sensor. The controller cuts off power supply to the heating member when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor has risen to a cutoff temperature higher than the target temperature and thereafter resumes power supply to the heating member when the detected temperature has fallen below the cutoff temperature, and performs the PID control while limiting a maximum power supplied to the heating member to an upper limit power, which is a power supplied to the heating member at the time when the detected temperature has risen to the cutoff temperature, during a period from when power supply is resumed until a predetermined specific period of time elapses.

Abstract: A drum unit includes: a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction; a drum frame to which a developing cartridge including a developing roller is attachable; and a pressure member. The drum frame includes a guide frame positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the drum frame. The guide frame has a guide groove allowing a portion of the developing cartridge to be inserted therein. The pressure member is provided at the guide frame at a position inward relative to the guide groove in the first direction. The pressure member is pivotally movable about a pressure axis extending in the first direction. The pressure member presses the developing cartridge toward the photosensitive drum in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.

Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing extending in the first direction; a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction; a detection gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, the detection gear being positioned at another side of the casing in the first direction; and a storage medium including an electric contact surface, the electric contact surface being positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a first rotatable member; a second rotatable member disposed in contact with the first rotatable member; a pressing member that is disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member and presses the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member such that the second rotatable member is pressed against the first rotatable member; a sliding member interposed between the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member and the pressing member; and a lubricant interposed between the inner circumferential surface of the second rotatable member and the sliding member. The sliding member has an irregular sliding surface having a surface roughness Ra1 of 0.20 ?m or more and a material ratio Rmr of 35% or more.

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 fixing device includes a fixing rotator having a hollow portion inside the fixing rotator, a fixing cover, a pressure rotator contacting the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip, an electric component, and a harness. The fixing cover covers the fixing rotator and extends from one end to another end in a longitudinal direction of the fixing cover. The electric component is inside the hollow portion of the fixing rotator. The harness is connected to the electric component at a connection portion. The harness extends from the connection portion toward one end of the fixing cover outside the fixing rotator in the longitudinal direction and folds back and extends toward said another end of the fixing cover in the longitudinal direction through one of a route inside the fixing cover between the fixing rotator and an inner face of the fixing cover and a route outside the fixing cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first motor that drives an image forming unit and that includes a motor of a type that lacks a sensor for detecting a rotational position of a rotor of the first motor, and a second motor that drives a fixing unit. A control unit causes rotational driving of the second motor to start after completion of a first operation for detecting a rotational position of the first motor or a second operation for causing the rotor to rotate to a predetermined rotational position, such that an execution timing of the first operation or the second operation and a timing at which rotational driving of the second motor is started do not overlap.

Abstract: A fixing rotating member comprising: a first resin layer having an endless shape; at least one heating layer on the first resin layer; a second resin layer on the heating layer; an elastic layer on the second resin layer; and, a surface layer on the elastic layer, wherein the first resin layer and the second resin layer are different from in elastic modulus at a specific temperature by at least 10%, and a neutral axis in a thickness direction of the fixing rotating member is located in the heating layer or in the second resin layer in the central region and the end region, the end region is a region from both ends of the heating layer in the width direction to a specific length toward a center, and the central region is a region of a specific length from the center to both ends.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging member, a charging voltage applying portion, an exposure unit, a developing member, a developing voltage applying portion, a cleaning member, and a controller. During a non-image forming operation from a start of rotation of the image bearing member to a start of an image forming operation or from an end of the image forming operation to a stop of the rotation of the image bearing member, in a contact rotation state of the developing member with the image bearing member, the controller effects control so as to execute a supplying operation in which Vback lower or higher than Vback during an image forming operation is generated in a time corresponding to one full rotation of the developing member and toner moved from the developing member to the surface of the image bearing member is supplied to the cleaning portion.

Abstract: A belt device includes a cleaning unit having a cleaning member that abuts a belt and cleans a front surface of the belt. A tension roller includes a deviation suppression mechanism on one side of and in a width direction of the tension roller. The width direction intersects a transport direction of the belt. The deviation suppression mechanism suppresses deviation of the belt in the width direction by tilting a rotary shaft of the tension roller. The cleaning member has one side in the width direction tiltable that follows tilting of the tension roller. The cleaning unit includes a port, for discharging toner removed from the front surface of the belt, on a downstream side of the cleaning member and in a transport direction of the toner. The downstream side is another side in the width direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a container, a thermal fixing device, and a duct. The image forming device forms an image on a sheet with an image forming substance. The container is separate from the image forming device and stores the image forming substance to be supplied to the image forming device. The thermal fixing device applies heat and pressure to the image forming substance to fix the image on the sheet. The duct guides air to flow upward through a first region between an outer circumference of the image forming device and an outer circumference of the container and a second region adjacent to an outer circumference of the thermal fixing device.

Abstract: A heating device includes a rotator having an internal space, a heater heating the rotator, lubricant applied to the rotator, a rotator support supporting the rotator, and a cover. The rotator support has a first opening communicating with the internal space of the rotator, penetrating through the rotator support, and extending in the longitudinal direction. The cover covers the first opening and has a face facing the first opening and a second opening communicating with the internal space of the rotator and an exterior of the cover. The cover maintains a temperature of the face of the cover at 40° C. or higher.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, a developing member, a contacting member contacting the developing member, and first to third power sources. The first power source generates a first voltage and applies it to the charging member. The second power source generates a second voltage, lower than the first voltage, from the first voltage and applies it to the contacting member. The third power source generates a third voltage, lower than the second voltage, from the second voltage and applies it to the developing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing belt, a pressure rotary body, a nip forming member, a detection unit, and a control unit configured to control a sheet interval to be a first sheet interval and a second sheet interval, wherein the control unit is configured to, in a case where time taken for a center position of the fixing belt to move, in the width direction, from a first position to a second position is equal to or less than a threshold, control the sheet interval to be the first sheet interval, and wherein the control unit is configured to, in a case where the time taken for the center position of the fixing belt to move, from the first position to the second position is more than the threshold, control the sheet interval to be the second sheet interval.