Abstract: An image formation device includes an image carrier that holds developed images, a transfer body that transfers the developed images held by the image carrier to a recording medium, a cleaning unit that cleans developer on the transfer body, a developer container in which the developer removed by the cleaning unit is deposited, and a sucking unit that sucks the developer leaking from the developer container, the transfer body having at least a rotating member of which both ends are rotatably supported, and the sucking unit having a suction hole opening at least at one end of the rotating member.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, includes: a flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable; a heating element; a nip member disposed in such a manner as to contact with a surface of the flexible fusing member and to allow the flexible fusing member to slide along the nip member; a reflecting plate configured to reflect radiant heat from the heating element in a direction toward the nip member; a backup member configured to nip the flexible fusing member with the nip member to thereby form a nip portion for the recording sheet between the flexible fusing member and the backup member; and a stay configured to support both end portions of the nip member. The reflecting plate has at least one flange portion, and the flange portion is held and supported between the nip member and the stay.

Abstract: In a method to remove toner deposits on a surface of a cleaning element, electrically charged toner particles are transferred from a transfer element surface to a photoconductor. On the cleaning element, untransferred, electrically charged toner particles as residual toner from the transfer element surface are received. Electrically charged toner particles on the cleaning element are directed past an electrode arrangement arranged at a distance from the surface of the cleaning element. An alternating electrical field is generated which acts on the toner particles to loosen them. The toner particles remaining on the surface of the cleaning element are brought into contact with a mixture of carrier particles and toner particles during further transport along a transport direction of the cleaning element.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic (EP) printer, a rotatable member includes a deposition area and a non-deposition area. A toner supply supplies toner to the member, and a moving receiving member receives from the deposition area of the rotatable member while the rotatable member rotates. The rotatable member is cleaned with a selectively-retractable blade in mechanical contact with the member so that toner is removed from the deposition area while the rotatable member rotates. An artifact sensor automatically detects a toner image artifact on the receiver. A controller responsive to the artifact sensor causes the blade to retract when an artifact is detected, and a blade cleaner cleans the blade while the blade is not in mechanical contact with the member.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade configured to clean a surface of a rotating subject, a solid lubricant configured to reduce the friction coefficient of the surface of the subject, and a lubricant coating device that includes a coating roller to shave the solid lubricant during normal rotation and a reverse rotation to coat the surface of the subject with the lubricant. The amount of lubricant supplied to the subject during normal rotation of the coating roller is different from a supply amount of the lubricant during reverse rotation of the coating roller, with more lubricant supplied during reverse rotation than during normal rotation.

Abstract: A toner-leveling mechanism installed and operative in a housing chamber that houses toner, the toner-leveling mechanism being capable of leveling toner accumulated in the housing chamber and narrowing an operation space of the toner-leveling mechanism in accordance with an increase in an accumulated amount of the toner.

Abstract: A fixing member includes a tubular surface layer having a first band section including a resin composition that contains a heat resistant resin having releasability, and a second band section having a higher mechanical strength than the resin composition, and the first band section and the second band section is respectively disposed along a circumferential direction of the surface layer and is disposed alternately in a width direction of the surface layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing device having a first nip to fix toner to a recording medium; a conveyance device provided at a position downstream from the fixing device in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium to convey the recording medium further downstream; a guide member provided along a conveyance path of the recording medium between the fixing device and the conveyance device to contact and convey the recording medium from the fixing device to the conveyance device, the guide member having multiple through-holes formed therein and penetrating from a front surface of the guide member facing the conveyance path of the recording medium to a back surface of the guide member; and an airflow generator to generate an airflow through the multiple through-holes.

Abstract: An ion generating unit comprises a duct, an ion generating device, a mounting plate and a fan. The duct is configured so as to have an air intake port at a first end and so as to have an exhaust port at a second end. The ion generating device is disposed inside the duct. The mounting plate is configured so as to serve to attach the duct to the housing. The mounting plate has an opening aperture communicating with the duct, and is configured so as to be attachable to the housing and so as to function as a part of the housing when it is attached to the housing.