Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cartridge, a storage medium, a cartridge-side holding device, a body-side holding device, and a reading device. The cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body. Information relating to the cartridge is stored in the storage medium. The cartridge-side holding device is provided in the cartridge and, when the cartridge is in a non-inserted state in which the cartridge is not inserted into the apparatus body, holds the storage medium. The body-side holding device is provided in the apparatus body and, when the cartridge is in an attached state in which the cartridge is disposed at an operation position in the apparatus body, holds the storage medium transferred from the cartridge-side holding device. The reading device reads the information from the storage medium held by the body-side holding device.

Abstract: A developer container according to the invention includes a developer containing unit, a partition member, and a moving restricting member. The developer containing unit has a developer containing chamber for containing an unused developing agent and a waste developer containing chamber for containing a waste developing agent. The partition member partitions the developer containing chamber and the waste developer containing chamber. The moving restricting member permits the partition member moving from a side of the waste developer containing chamber to a side of the developer containing chamber and restricts the partition member moving from the side of the developer containing chamber to the side of the waste developer containing chamber.

Abstract: A multifunction peripheral includes a transfer belt, a first imaging unit, a second imaging unit, a primary transfer roller, a secondary transfer roller, a developing bias application unit, a charging bias application unit, and a control unit. The control unit performs control such that a first developing bias that is applied to a first developing roller by the developing bias application unit and a a second developing bias that is applied to a second developing roller by the developing bias application unit have opposite phases.

Abstract: A sheet humidification apparatus includes a detect sensor that detects a position of a sheet which is being conveyed; a humidifier that changes a humidification amount and humidifies the sheet; and a controller that controls the humidifier such that a first region on a front end side of the sheet in a conveyance direction is humidified with a first humidification amount, and a second region of the sheet other than the first region is humidified with a second humidification amount larger than the first humidification amount in accordance with a position of the sheet detected by the detect sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a driving device, a charging member, a cleaning member, a voltage applying device, a torque detector for detecting the torque of the driving device, a storage for storing a predetermined torque value Tc, and a control portion. The control portion obtains as Ton the torque when the charging voltage is applied to the charging member and obtains as Toff the torque when no charging voltage is applied to the charging member. Let the torque observed when no charging voltage is applied at an early stage of use of the image carrying member be represented by Toff(0), then, when the relations Toff(0)<Toff and Tc<Ton/Toff hold, the control portion determines that the degree of smoothness of the surface of the image carrying member is equal to or higher than a predetermined degree of smoothness.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an optical sensor which includes a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part opposed to the light-emitting part and is configured to detect an amount of waste toner accumulated in a waste toner container, the waste toner being produced with formation of an image and then accommodated in the waste toner container; a detecting section configured to detect a change in an output of the light-receiving part; a shielding member interposed between the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part and configured to create, between the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part, a light-transmitting environment equivalent to that when the waste toner container is filled with the waste toner; and an adjusting section configured to adjust a light intensity of the light-emitting part when the shielding member is interposed between the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a voltage source, a fixing device including a rotatable member, an executing portion for executing an operation in a both side mode, and a setting portion. The setting portion sets a transfer voltage in the operation for a second surface so that an absolute value of the transfer voltage when a recording material region, which starts from a most downstream end position and which passed through a fixing portion through a first one full circumference of the rotatable member when the toner image is fixed on a first surface passes through the transfer portion, is greater than an absolute value of the transfer voltage when a recording material region passed through the fixing portion through a second one full circumference of the rotatable member when the toner image is fixed on the first surface passes through the transfer portion.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus with which, in selecting one of plural processing image areas in one image, even an inexpensive display unit will not lower the convenience. An information processing part of image forming apparatus includes a division number questioning part, answer receiving part, image dividing part, key highlighting part, processing image selection part, and reporting display part. Division number questioning part makes a question about a required image division number. Answer receiving part receives an answer. Image dividing part displays image, dividing it into plural processing image areas by the required image division number answered. Key highlighting part highlights keys corresponding to processing image areas. Processing image selection part selects processing image area corresponding to a key operated, as processing object.

Abstract: A developing device includes a storing unit that stores an electrostatic charge image developing toner, and a developer holding member that is provided to have a gap with an image holding member and holds the toner on a surface, wherein the developing device develops an electrostatic charge image formed on a surface of the image holding member by the toner on the developer holding member through a non-contact development to form a toner image, and wherein the toner has a sea and island structure of a sea portion containing a binder resin and an island portion containing a release agent, a maximum frequent value in distribution of the eccentricity B of the island portion is from 0.75 to 0.95, and a skewness in the distribution of the eccentricity B is from ?1.10 to ?0.50, and the eccentricity B is defined in the specification.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller; a first frame; and a second frame. The first frame includes: a first melt-bonding surface extending in a first direction; and a second melt-bonding surface positioned closer to the developing roller than the first melt-bonding surface. The second melt-bonding surface forms an obtuse angle with the first melt-bonding surface. The second frame is melt-bonded to the first frame. The second frame includes: a first wall having a third melt-bonding surface melt-bonded to the first melt-bonding surface and extending in parallel to the first melt-bonding surface; a second wall having a fourth melt-bonding surface melt-boned to the second melt-bonding surface and extending in parallel to the second melt-bonding surface; and a protruding portion having a surface intersecting the fourth melt-bonding surface and protruding in the first direction from the second wall toward the developing roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrostatic latent image bearer; a charger to charge a surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer; a power source to output a charging bias supplied to the charger; an electrostatic latent image writing unit to write an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearer charged by the charger; a developing unit including a developing member to develop the electrostatic latent image to obtain a toner image; a developing power source to output a developing bias supplied to the developing unit; a processor to adjust the charging bias output from the power source to a predetermined target value; and a storage unit to store an adjustment value algorithm.

Abstract: A removable device is removably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body. The removable device includes an information storage device, a holder, and a low frictional structure. The information storage device includes: an information storage unit that stores information to be communicated between the apparatus main body and the removable device; a terminal to be contacted with an apparatus main-body terminal, for communicating information with the apparatus main body; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and that includes a guide to be fitted to a protrusion provided on the apparatus main body. The holder holds the substrate such that the substrate can move, when the removable device approaches the apparatus main-body terminal, on a virtual plane intersecting with a moving direction of the removable device. The low frictional structure is arranged on a contact area between the substrate and the holder.

Abstract: A gear device includes a gear means configured to transmit a torque of a motor to a rotating member. The gear means includes a rotor and an armature. The gear device further includes a coupling force applying part and a resistance force generating part. The coupling force applying part is configured to apply a coupling force so as to couple the rotor and the armature to each other. The resistance force generating part is configured to apply a resistance force acting against the coupling force to the gear means along with movement of the gear means away from the rotating member.

Abstract: A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a first frame and a second frame and a layer thickness regulating member. The first frame and the second frame include a first welding surface formed at a periphery of the developer accommodating part correspondingly to a developer accommodating part; and a second welding surface extending continuously from the first welding surface correspondingly to a roller support part. The first welding surface extends in a direction orthogonal to an overlapping direction of the first frame and the second frame. The second welding surface extends to be inclined toward a side of the first frame in the overlapping direction as extending toward the developing roller. The layer thickness regulating member is provided to cover the second welding surface from a side of the second frame in the overlapping direction.

Abstract: An image forming unit suppressing occurrences of jitters, includes an image carrier rotating by drive force transmitted via a first route to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developer carrier having an elastic layer carrying a developer on a surface thereof and rotating by drive force transmitted via a second route to develop the electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is developed with the developer under a development condition that, with the elastic layer of a thickness from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, the developer carrier is rotated with a circumferential speed ratio to the image carrier in a range from 1.10 to 1.45, or that, with the elastic layer of a thickness more than 2.5 mm but not more than 5.0 mm, the developer carrier is rotated with a circumferential speed ratio to the image carrier in a range from 1.10 to 1.24.

Abstract: A photosensitive drum for use with an image forming apparatus includes a cylinder, having a photosensitive layer at its surface, to which process units are contacted, a supporting shaft extending through the cylinder, and a flange provided at a longitudinal end portion of the cylinder. The flange includes a supporting portion supporting an inner peripheral portion of the cylinder within a contact area at which the process units contact the cylinder, and a first supported portion supported by the supporting shaft, with the first supported portion disposed further from the longitudinal end portion of the cylinder than the supporting portion. In addition, a second supported portion is supported by the supporting shaft and is disposed closer to the longitudinal end portion of the cylinder than the supporting portion. A clearance portion is provided between the first supported portion and the second supported portion with respect to a longitudinal direction of the cylinder.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a photoconductor cartridge including a photoconductor is removably installed in a housing, a transfer unit configured to transfer a developer image onto a sheet in a transfer position is disposed in contact with the photoconductor, a developer cartridge is removably installed in the housing, and a fixing unit is configured to fix a developer image on the sheet in a fixing position. The housing has a first opening provided behind the transfer unit opposite to the photoconductor, and a second opening provided separate from the first opening. The photoconductor cartridge can be removed from and installed into the housing through the to first opening. The developer cartridge can be removed from and installed into the housing through the second opening. The photoconductor cartridge includes a chute that extends between the transfer position and the fixing unit to guide the sheet toward the fixing unit.

Abstract: A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a first frame and a second frame and a layer thickness regulating member. The first frame and the second frame include a first welding surface formed at a periphery of the developer accommodating part correspondingly to a developer accommodating part; and a second welding surface extending continuously from the first welding surface correspondingly to a roller support part. The first welding surface extends in a direction orthogonal to an overlapping direction of the first frame and the second frame. The second welding surface extends to be inclined toward a side of the first frame in the overlapping direction as extending toward the developing roller. The layer thickness regulating member is provided to cover the second welding surface from a side of the second frame in the overlapping direction.

Abstract: A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a first frame and a second frame and a layer thickness regulating member. The first frame and the second frame include a first welding surface formed at a periphery of the developer accommodating part correspondingly to a developer accommodating part; and a second welding surface extending continuously from the first welding surface correspondingly to a roller support part. The first welding surface extends in a direction orthogonal to an overlapping direction of the first frame and the second frame. The second welding surface extends to be inclined toward a side of the first frame in the overlapping direction as extending toward the developing roller. The layer thickness regulating member is provided to cover the second welding surface from a side of the second frame in the overlapping direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a transfer rotator to contact the image bearer to form a transfer nip therebetween; a bias application device to apply, to the transfer rotator, a transfer bias, a cleaning bias to remove toner adhering to the transfer rotator, and a non-image area bias smaller in absolute value than the cleaning bias; and a controller to control the bias application device and set a sheet feeding interval according to a predetermined condition. When the sheet feeding interval exceeds a predetermined threshold, the controller causes the bias application device to apply, to the transfer rotator, the non-image area bias for an application time Z and the cleaning bias for a time X?Z within the sheet feeding interval when X represents the sheet feeding interval, and the application time Z is increased as the sheet feeding interval is increased.