Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a conveying amount measuring unit that measures a conveying amount of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit; a first detection unit that detects the sheet downstream of the sheet conveying unit in a conveying direction of the sheet; a second detection unit that detects the sheet upstream of the sheet conveying unit in the conveying direction of the sheet; and a conveying distance calculation unit that calculates a conveying distance of the sheet based on the measured result by the conveying amount measuring unit and the detected results detected by the first detection unit and the second detection unit.

Abstract: A photosensitive unit is provided. The photosensitive unit includes a frame, plural photosensitive drums which are held by the frame, plural cartridges detachably mounted in the frame. Each cartridge includes a developing roller for supplying developer to the corresponding photosensitive drum, a supply roller, and a casing having a first casing portion supporting the developing roller and the supply roller and including a first wall, and a second casing portion storing developer and including a second wall connected to the first wall through a first stepped portion. The frame includes plural beam members which are provided between a pair of side parts. Each beam member includes a third wall which opposes the first wall with a distance therebetween, and a fourth wall which opposes the second wall with a distance therebetween in a state where a cartridge is mounted in the frame.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical rotating member rotating in a circumferential direction thereof and having a slot at an end thereof and a protruding section extending along an edge of the slot at a front side in a rotational direction of the rotating member, the rotating member receiving a rotational driving force via the slot; a pressing member pressing a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image on a surface thereof by nipping the recording medium together with the rotating member so as to fix the toner image onto the surface; a heat source heating the recording medium; and a driving member having an engagement section engaged with the slot and in contact with the protruding section at a position separated from a peripheral wall of the cylinder by a certain distance, the driving member imparting the rotational driving force to the rotating member via the engagement section.

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 heating apparatus includes a rotatable belt member for heating an image on a recording material; a rotatable member pressing against said belt member; a nip forming member, provided inside said belt member, for cooperating with said rotatable member to form a nip for nipping and feeding the recording material; a projection provided on a side of said nip forming member near the nip and projecting toward the nip; and an executing portion for executing a first image heating mode operation in which an image formed on the recording material having a first thickness with said projection projected into a nip region and a second image heating mode operation in which an image formed on the recording material having a second thickness which is smaller than the first thickness with said projection is outside the nip region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a primary transfer body that bears a developer image, a secondary transfer portion for transferring the developer image from the primary transfer body to a medium, and an introduction portion provided on an upstream side of the secondary transfer portion in a conveying direction of the medium. The introduction portion introduces the primary transfer portion and the medium toward the secondary transfer portion. The introduction portion has a gap having a predetermined distance therebetween.

Abstract: The fixing device using an electromagnetic induction heating (IH) method includes a fixing sleeve having a heating layer, a pressure roller to form a nip while contacting the fixing roller and rotate to drive the fixing sleeve, a temperature detector to detect a temperature on a circumference of the fixing sleeve, and an excitation coil provided near the fixing sleeve and configured to perform induction heating of the heating layer of the fixing sleeve based on the detection result from the temperature detector. The fixing device is configured to change a rotation speed of the fixing sleeve in a standby time during which the fixing sleeve, while rotating, is controlled to be heated so as to maintain a target temperature when a periodic temperature difference occurs on a circumference of the fixing rotary member and having a fluctuation amplitude larger than a predetermined value compared to the target temperature.

Abstract: A roll-type charging device contacts an image receptor serving as a body to be charged and is capable of rotating due to rotation of the image receptor. The apparatus includes a hollow roll having a cylindrical shape and formed of a hollow elastic member and flanges having rotation axes and formed of elastic members, the flanges inserted into two ends of the hollow roll to increase an inner diameter of the hollow roll.

Abstract: A rotation driving force transmitting member is disposed between a motor section and a main body of a photoreceptor drum. The rotation driving force transmitting member has a convex member which is provided on the photoreceptor drum side and includes a twisted convex portion with an elliptical cross-section and a concave member which is provided on the motor section side and includes a twisted concave portion with an elliptical cross-section, the concave portion being fitted in the convex portion. The rotation driving force transmitting member transmits rotation driving force by the motor section to the photoreceptor drum via the convex member and the concave member in a state where the convex member is subjected to a drawing force toward the concave member side, due to rotation of the motor section in a state where the convex portion and the concave portion are fitted in each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer device to transfer a toner image formed on an image bearing member onto a recording medium, a sheet separation device to separate the recording medium from the image bearing member, a sheet separation bias application device to apply to the sheet separation device a sheet separation bias in which an alternating current (AC) component is superimposed on a direct current (DC) component, and a transfer bias application device to selectively apply to the transfer device one of a DC transfer bias having a DC component and a superimposed transfer bias in which an AC component is superimposed on a DC component. Upon application of the superimposed transfer bias to the transfer device, the sheet separation bias applied to the sheet separation device is changed from the sheet separation bias applied upon application of the DC transfer bias to the transfer device.

Abstract: A fusing device includes a belt, a first stretching member contacting an inner circumference of the belt and stretching the belt tightly, a heating member having a heating element on the surface, a second stretching member having a heating member facing part that faces the heating member and a curved surface part that faces the belt, and stretching the belt tightly with the first stretching member.

Abstract: A belt driving apparatus includes: an endless belt having a stepped region at its edge; a driving member for driving the endless belt; a moving member for moving the endless belt in a widthwise direction; a mark provided at a part of the endless belt with respect to a circumferential direction and located at a position corresponding to the stepped region of the endless belt with respect to a rotational direction; a mark detecting member for detecting the mark during rotation of the endless belt; an edge position detecting member for detecting a widthwise position of at least one of edges of the endless belt during rotation; and a controller for controlling, after the mark detecting member detects the mark, the moving member on the basis of a detection result of the edge other than the stepped region of the endless belt.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of predicting failure of a fixing device of an image forming apparatus are provided. Based on a plurality of sheet transfer time values of the fixing device, a first characteristic value that is an average value of the plurality of sheet transfer time values, and at least one of a second characteristics value that indicates the variance of the plurality of sheet transfer time values and a third characteristics value that indicates the maximum value of the plurality of sheet transfer time values are calculated. Using a determination result generated based on the first characteristics value and the at least one of the second and third characteristics values, failure of the fixing device is predicted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a fixing liquid applicator applying a fixing liquid including a plasticizer swelling and softening a toner forming a toner image to fix on a recording medium thereto before bearing the toner image; a transferer transferring the toner image on a toner image bearer onto the recording medium while contacting the toner image to the fixing liquid thereon; and a fixing device heating the toner image and the fixing liquid to fix the toner image thereon, wherein the fixing liquid applicator comprises an application member bearing the fixing liquid on its surface and apply the liquid on a surface of the recording medium the toner image is transferred onto; a feeder feeding the fixing liquid to the application member; and an inducement mechanism inducing the fixing liquid pooling at a delivery point where the feeder feeds the fixing liquid to the application member out of the point.

Abstract: The developing unit includes a developing section, a developer container, and a partition wall. The developing section includes a developer-bearing member, a supplying member, and a conveying member. The developer container is positioned adjacent to the developing section and configured to contain the developer. The partition wall is positioned adjacent to the conveying member and configured to separate the developing section and the developer container. The partition wall has a supply port, and a return port. A downstream end of the conveying member in a developer conveying direction is extended axially outward with respect to the supplying member. The return port faces the downstream end of the conveying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer tank which houses two-component developer containing toner and carrier, and a supply unit which supplies the developer tank with supply developer containing toner and carrier, wherein, when the ratio of mass of inorganic fine particles attached to the carrier contained in the two-component developer to mass of the carrier contained in the two-component developer is A, and when the ratio of mass of inorganic fine particles attached to the carrier contained in the supply developer to mass of the carrier contained in the supply developer is B, the following Formula (1) is satisfied: 0.7<B/A<0.96??(1).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a development device; a speed varying unit that can vary a speed of a developer bearing member; a sensing portion that senses an environmental temperature around the development device; and a controller that can perform a mode in which, compared with a period which an image forming region of the image bearing member passes through the developing region, the rotation speed of the developer bearing member slows down a period which a non-image forming region of the image bearing member passes through the developing region, wherein based on sensing result of the sensing portion, the controller performs the mode when the environmental temperature is higher than a predetermined value, and the controller does not perform the mode when the environmental temperature is lower than the predetermined value.

Abstract: The cleaning blade is mounted to a holder that is pivoted. The pivot mechanism is designed such that the instantaneous center of rotation of the blade holder, in its operational position, is positioned above the plane of blade tip contact to the photoreceptor and upstream of the blade tip or below the plane of contact and downstream from the blade tip. These configurations result in a reduction of blade load as friction coefficient increases and a slower increase in photoreceptor torque when compared to conventional interference loaded blades. By a careful choice of the location of the center of rotation, the blade load can be maintained at a sufficiently high value for good cleaning over the expected range of friction coefficients. A four bar linkage provides a compact mechanism to pivot the blade holder and avoids potential problems of the mechanism interfering with the process and other components.

Abstract: An image heating device includes a heating rotatable member; and a pressing pad contacted to said heating rotatable member and forming a nip with said heating rotatable member to nip and feed a recording material, said pressing member being provided with an electroconductive material dispersed resin material layer contacting said heating rotatable member.

Abstract: A developing device is provided. The developing device includes a housing, a developer carrier which is rotatably supported by the housing, and a layer thickness regulating member which includes a blade configured to contact the developer carrier along a rotational axial direction of the developer carrier, a support member supporting the blade, and a reinforcement member provided at an opposite side to the support member with respect to the blade and reinforcing the blade. The support member includes a first part which contacts the blade, and to which the blade is fixed, a second part which is connected to the reinforcement member, and a third part which is attached to the housing. As viewed from the rotational axial direction, the first part and the third part are provided on a same first plane, and the second part is provided on a second plane intersecting with the first plane.