Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cover, is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a switching member. The switching member switches states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein the toner cartridge is restricted from being detached, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The process cartridge is movable between an attached position to be placed entirely inside the main body and a detached position to be entirely outside the main body. The main body includes a restrictor to restrict the process cartridge from moving from an intermediate position toward the detached position. While the process cartridge is restricted by the restrictor, a supportive part in the cover supports the process cartridge with the switching member being at least partly placed outside the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an engine unit to be used for performing an image forming job, a motor to start the engine unit, a driver circuit to sense a current flowing in the motor and supply the motor with a power source, and a processor to determine a load size of the motor based on the sensed current and control a driving speed of the motor based on the determined load size.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detecting unit configured to detect a test image formed on an image carrier; and an obtaining unit configured to obtain a color misregistration amount using a detection result of the test image by the detecting unit. The test image includes one or more basic patterns; each one of the one or more basic patterns includes a first pattern group and a second pattern group disposed at different positions with respect to a conveyance direction of the image carrier; the first pattern group and the second pattern group each include a plurality of V-shaped patterns; and the V-shaped patterns of the first pattern group and the second pattern group have an axisymmetrical shape about an axis corresponding to a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum unit, a development unit, a supporting part, and a biasing part. The supporting part supports the development unit so as to be shiftable in directions close to and separate from the drum unit. The biasing part biases a development housing of the development unit toward the drum unit. The drum unit is attachable to and detachable from a main housing. When the drum unit is not attached to the main housing, the development unit is biased by the biasing part and is positioned closer to the drum unit than a predetermined position of the development unit when the drum unit is attached. When the drum unit is attached to the main housing, a drum frame of the drum unit pushes away the development housing against a biasing force of the biasing part to shift the development unit to the predetermined position.

Abstract: A heating device includes a heating unit that heats a member to be heated, which is transported, as a result of a contact portion of the heating unit being in contact with the member to be heated, a heat pipe that contacts with a portion of the heating unit different from the contact portion in such a manner as to extend in a widthwise direction crossing a transport direction of the member to be heated and that includes a crimped portion formed at a first end of the heat pipe, and a power-supply connection unit that is disposed on a second end side of the heat pipe and that is connected to a wiring line through which power is supplied to the heating unit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a load element, a switching element, and a processor. The load element controls a temperature of the semiconductor device with an electric current supplied to the load element. The switching element switches between supply of an electric current to the load element and a cut-off of the supply. The processor controls the switching element. The processor controls the electric current to be supplied to the load element through the switching element so that the semiconductor device has a series of temperatures represented by a specific temperature profile.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a housing; a storage medium; and a holder. The storage medium has an electrical contact surface. The holder is movable relative to the housing. The holder includes: a first holder member; and a second holder member. The first holder member has a pawl portion and is configured to hold the electrical contact surface. The second holder member includes a corner portion. The pawl portion is engageable with the corner portion. The second holder member has a through-hole. An engagement part of the pawl portion engaging with the corner portion is accessible from outside the second holder member through the through-hole in a state where the pawl portion engages with the corner portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus superimposes a plurality of color images each formed of a single-color developer to form a superimposed color image. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry forms, as a correction pattern, combination patterns arranged along a conveyance direction of the color images and including a first pattern, a second pattern, and a third pattern. A formation interval of the first pattern constituting one combination pattern is shorter than a formation interval between one horizontal line of the first pattern constituting the one combination pattern and another horizontal line of the first pattern constituting another combination pattern. The one horizontal line is opposite the other horizontal line.

Abstract: A chemical supply structure includes a bar-shaped body having a plurality of chemical reservoirs in which a plurality of chemicals is individually stored such that the body partially crosses an underlying substrate, a bar-shaped nozzle protruded from a bottom surface of the body and injecting injection chemicals onto the substrate, a plurality of the chemicals being mixed into the injection chemicals, and a hydrophobic unit arranged on the bottom surface of the body and on a side surface of the nozzle such that a mixed solution mixed with the injection chemicals is prevented from adhering to the bottom surface and the side surface by controlling a contact angle of the mixed solution with respect to the bottom surface and the side surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to aspects of the present disclosure includes a cover, an interlocking mechanism, a sensor, a separation mechanism, a controller. In a state where the cover moves from a closed position to an open position while no power is supplied to the controller, a state of the interlocking mechanism changes from a first state to a second state. In a state where the sensor does not detect that the interlocking mechanism is in the second state when power supply to the controller is started, the separation mechanism keeps the developing roller located at a separation position at the separation position. On the other hand, in a state where the sensor detects that the interlocking mechanism is in the second state when power supply to the controller is started, the separation mechanism moves the developing roller located at a contact position to the separation position.

Abstract: A drum unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling member provided on the photosensitive drum. The coupling member includes a driving force receiving portion and a supporting portion movably supporting the driving force receiving portion. The supporting portion includes a first extended portion and a second extended portion which extend at least in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a first cam positioned at one end portion of the casing; a second cam positioned at another end portion of the casing; and a connection member connecting the first cam and the second cam to each other. The first cam is movable relative to the casing and the developing roller in the first direction between a first position and a second position, and the second cam is movable relative to the casing and the developing roller in the first direction between a third position and a fourth position. The second cam is movable from the third position to the fourth position due to a tensile force of the connection member in accordance with movement of the first cam from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A cam transmits and blocks light emitted from a light emitting portion. The cam moves to: a first position at which first and second cartridges are attachable to and detachable from a housing; a second position at which a first development roller contacts a first photosensitive drum, the second position being a position at which the cam has moved in a first direction from the first position; and a third position at which the first development roller is separated from the first photosensitive drum and a second development roller is separated from a second photosensitive drum, the third position being a position at which the cam has moved in the first direction from the second position. During an initial operation, based on a detection result of the sensor, a controller determines which of the first position, the second position, and the third position the cam is located at.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus to control an image forming system includes a reception unit and a control unit. The image forming system includes a first conveyance unit configured to convey a recording medium and a second conveyance unit located downstream of the first conveyance unit in a conveyance route of the recording medium. The reception unit receives an instruction to set a conveyance speed of the first conveyance unit. The control unit sets the conveyance speed of the first conveyance unit to the image forming system based on the setting instruction, and sets a conveyance speed of the second conveyance unit to the image forming system based on the instruction to set the conveyance speed of the first conveyance unit.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: an apparatus housing including a stacker and an opening provided at the stacker; a fixation device removably attached to the apparatus housing through the opening and including a handle rotatable between an upright position and a laid-flat position; and a laid-flat position-keeping detent mechanism. In a state where the fixation device is attached to the apparatus housing, a portion of the fixation device that is exposed from the opening provided at the stacker forms a portion of the stacker and a connector of the fixation device is mated to a connector of the apparatus housing. By at least a predetermined force being applied to the handle to transition the handle from the upright position to the laid-flat position, the laid-flat position-keeping detent mechanism allows the handle to transition to the laid-flat position and keeps the handle in the laid-flat position.

Abstract: A first power supply circuit supplies power to a load. A second power supply circuit connected to the first power supply circuit in parallel supplies power to the load together with the first power supply circuit. A monitoring unit monitors a current flowing from the first power supply circuit to the load. A switch disconnects the second power supply circuit and the load when a current flowing from the first power supply circuit to the load has not reached a predetermined value and connects the second power supply circuit and the load when a current flowing from the first power supply circuit to the load has reached a predetermined value.

Abstract: A process cartridge which allows any spot and stripe as image defects to be suppressed is provided. A process cartridge, in which an electroconductive layer of a charging member has a matrix including a first rubber, and domains dispersed in the matrix, the domains include a second rubber and an electron electroconductive agent, at least some of the domains are exposed on a surface of the charging member, when a volume resistivity of the matrix is 105 times or more a volume resistivity of the domains, a protective layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a metal oxide particle, and when a number average primary particle size of the metal oxide particle is defined as Sm and an average value of equivalent circle diameters of the domains is defined as Sd, the Sd/Sm satisfies the following expression (1): 0.5<Sd/Sm<100 . . . expression (1).

Abstract: Examples include an end cap system for a developer unit in a liquid photographic printer. The end cap system includes an end cap and a film that includes a first outermost superficial layer and a second outermost superficial layer opposed to the first outermost superficial layer. The first outermost superficial layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive layer applied to a portion of an inner surface of the end cap. The second outermost superficial layer is a low surface energy layer to be exposed to liquid photographic printing fluid during printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drum unit, and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a developing unit projection projecting out from opposite sides of the developing unit along an extension line of a rotation shaft of a developing roller. The apparatus main body includes a first developing projection guide portion configured to guide the developing unit projection from a first start position to a relay position in the apparatus main body, the relay position located closer to the photoconductor drum than the first start position. The drum unit includes a second developing projection guide portion configured to, succeeding from the first developing projection guide portion, guide the developing unit projection from the relay position to a first end position, the first end position located closer to the photoconductor drum than the relay position.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing extending in a first direction; a developing roller; a memory held at the housing; a holder holding an electrical contact surface; and a relay component electrically connecting the memory to the electrical contact surface. The developing roller is rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction. The developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the housing in a second direction. The holder is movable relative to the housing in at least one of the second direction and a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction. The third direction also crosses the electrical contact surface.