Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member, a reflection plate, a backup member, a stay and a temperature sensor. The flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member. The reflection plate is configured to reflect the radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member, the reflection plate having an outer profile. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.

Abstract: A deskewing plug and assembly mountable in a frame having a first and a second shaft forming a nip therebetween with the second shaft rotatably mounted in a pair of opposed channels and biased toward the first shaft for adjusting the axial alignment of the shafts. The deskewing plug has a generally cylindrical body having first portion, a second portion and a tab portion. The second portion has a circumferential camming surface cooperatively engageable with the second shaft. Rotation of the plug and camming surface adjusts the axial alignment of the second shaft. The tab portion radially extends from the first portion and has radially extending ridges frictionally engageable with a wall of the opening in the frame to prevent rotation of the deskewing plug after adjustment. A cap may be provided to cover and frictionally engage the tab with the cap being fastenable to the frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a control method for the same, which ensure acquisition of a high-quality image by controlling physical-states of toner on a developer roller based on sensed variation in states of internal components of a developer cartridge, and which enable sensing and determination of the lifespan of the developer cartridge, is provided. The control method for the image forming apparatus includes applying a current detection bias to a developer roller blade of a developer cartridge, detecting the magnitude of current of the developer roller blade when the current detection bias is applied to the developer roller blade, and variably controlling a developer cartridge bias to be applied to the developer cartridge for image formation based on the detected magnitude of current of the developer roller blade, so as to allow a target magnitude of constant current to flow through the developer roller blade during image formation.

Abstract: A wet type developing apparatus is provided which allows printing in a quality that is stable at an increased printing speed and also with changes in physical property of a liquid developer. The wet type developing apparatus to this end includes a liquid developer feed pathway which comprises a developing roller 7 for feeding the liquid developer onto a photoconductor drum 3; an anilox roller 9 immersed in part in the liquid developer and driven to rotate in rotational contact with the developing roller; and a doctor blade 11 disposed in contact with a surface of the anilox roller for controlling the rate of drawing up of the liquid developer. The developing and anilox rollers have their peripheral surfaces moving in an identical direction and at an identical rate of movement in an area of their rotational contact.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, discharge unit, first and second guides, and top cover. The discharge unit is disposed obliquely above a heating member of the fixing unit. The first guide extends from a position above the heating member toward the discharge unit and has an upstream portion in a conveying direction of an image-fixed sheet. The second guide is disposed above the heating member and faces the upstream portion. The second guide defines an upper portion of the conveying path. A part of the second guide faces the upstream portion in the first position, and exposes the upstream portion in the second position. The top cover is movable between an open position where the second guide is exposed and a closed position where the second guide is covered. The first guide has a guide surface sloping downward in the conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body including an opening, an image forming unit, a storage portion, a moving unit, and a control unit. The control unit switches between a first state and a second state, the first state being a state where the moving unit is prohibited from moving and exposing a first sheet when information about a second user different from a first user who has instructed to print a first sheet is received, and the second state being a state where the moving unit is permitted to move and expose the first sheet if information about the second user is received.

Abstract: A toner container includes a container body, a toner discharge outlet, and a moveable wall. The container body includes an inner circumferential section having a tubular shape extending in a first direction and an internal space. The toner discharge outlet passes through the container body. The moveable wall includes a conveying surface and an outer circumferential section in sealed contact with the inner circumferential section of the container body. The moveable wall moves in the first direction along a shaft while conveying developer toward the toner discharge outlet. The shaft includes a moveable wall support section that supports the moveable wall when the moveable wall reaches a final position.

Abstract: A process unit includes a latent image bearer, a developer bearer, a regulator, a supplier, and at least one voltage applicator. The latent image bearer bears a latent image on a surface thereof. The developer bearer supplies a developer onto the latent image bearer to make the latent image a visible image. The regulator regulates a thickness of a layer of the developer on the surface of the developer bearer. The supplier supplies the developer to the developer bearer. At least one voltage applicator applies a voltage to the developer bearer and the latent image bearer.

Abstract: A developer case includes a case main body and a carrier tank. The case main body includes a toner containing space and a merging space. The toner containing space contains a toner. The merging space communicates to the toner containing space. The carrier tank is attachably/detachably installed to the case main body. The carrier tank includes a carrier containing space. The carrier containing space contains a carrier and communicates to the merging space. The toner conveyed from the toner containing space and the carrier conveyed from the carrier containing space are merged with each other in the merging space and discharged to an outside.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a plurality of photosensitive drums, a retaining unit, and an endless belt. The retaining unit retains the plurality of photosensitive drums, and is movable between an internal position within the main casing and an external position outside of the main casing. The endless belt is configured to contact the plurality of the photosensitive drums, when the retaining unit is in the internal position and retains the plurality of the photosensitive drums therein. The retaining unit includes a plurality of pressing portions configured to exert pressure on the plurality of photosensitive drums toward the endless belt, when the retaining unit is in the internal position and retains the plurality of the photosensitive drums therein.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a toner discharge outlet, an opening/closing member, a lever member, and a lock member. The case main body can be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus and store toner. The toner discharge outlet is formed on the case main body. The opening/closing member can be moved between an opening position and a closing position. The lever member can be operated between first and second operation positions. The lock member can be moved between: a lock position to abut on the opening/closing member and the lever member, lock the opening/closing member to the closing position and lock the lever member to the first operation position; and an unlock position to be separated from the opening/closing member and the lever member and allow the opening/closing member and the lever member to be released from locks.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a casing, a developer carrier, a developer conveying path, a developer conveying member, and a layer thickness regulator. The developer carrier is driven to rotate in the casing and carries a toner on the circumferential surface. The developer conveying member is located in the developer conveying path and driven to rotate so as to convey the developer in a second direction and to supply the toner to the developer carrier. The layer thickness regulator is spaced from the developer carrier, and regulates a layer thickness of the developer supplied to the developer carrier. The developing unit is configured to satisfy a condition of 2.0<Vd/Vs<7.0, where Vd denotes a circumferential velocity of the developer carrier and Vs denotes a circumferential velocity of the developer conveying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developing cartridge arranged below the photosensitive body and having a developing roller configured to supply a developing agent to the photosensitive body and to be rotatable about an rotation shaft of the developing roller; a support body configured to removably support the developing cartridge; and a pressing member configured to press the rotation shaft of the developing roller so as to press the developing roller against the photosensitive body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a reflection member; a stay; and a backup member. The fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and is circularly movable. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The reflection member reflects a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member. The reflection member includes a reflection portion and an extending portion. The stay covers the reflection portion and supports the nip member. The extending portion extends outside of the stay. The backup member provides a nip region in cooperation with the nip member upon nipping the tubular flexible fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The extending portion extends between the nip member and the stay. The extending portion is positioned exclusively downstream of the reflection portion in a sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a pre-cleaning section and a first cleaning section. The pre-cleaning section includes a pre-cleaning roller and a pre-bias power source that applies a voltage having a polarity opposite to a regular charging polarity of toner to the pre-cleaning roller such that toner passing over the pre-cleaning roller is oppositely charged to the polarity opposite to the regular charging polarity. The first cleaning section includes a first cleaning roller and a first bias power source that applies a voltage having the polarity opposite to the regular charging polarity of toner to the first cleaning roller such that toner having the polarity identical to the regular charging polarity electrostatically attaches to the first cleaning roller from the transfer belt when a predetermined cleaning condition is satisfied.

Abstract: In a development device, a developer carrier arranged in a housing containing a one-component developer has a circumferential surface carrying the developer. A developer conveying path includes one conveying path along the developer carrier in a first direction and another conveying path in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The developer is circulated and conveyed between the conveying paths. A developer conveying member is arranged in the one conveying path and rotationally driven to convey the developer along the first direction and to supply the developer to the developer carrier. A layer thickness adjusting member is arranged at a distance from the circumferential surface to adjust a layer thickness of the developer supplied to the developer carrier. The developer carrier has a circumferential speed Vd and the developer conveying member has a circumferential speed Vs so that a circumferential speed ratio Vd/Vs satisfies a relationship represented by 1.3?Vd/Vs?5.0.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a driving device, a transfer body, a toner detector, an error notification device, and a controller. The toner detector detects, at a preparation running and while the driving device drives a latent image bearer, one of a toner adhesion amount at a background portion of the latent image bearer and a toner adhesion amount at a background corresponding region of a transfer body. The error notification device notifies a user of an error with the toner adhesion being equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The driving device stops only a developer bearer after driving both the latent image bearer and the developer bearer at the preparation running, but before a trailing edge of a detection target region of one of the background portion of the latent image bearer and the background corresponding region advances to an opposite position to the toner detector.

Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing an image to a sheet includes: a tubular flexible member; a nip member; a heater; a reflection member; a backup member; and a temperature sensor. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and has a surface and an opposite surface. The heater is disposed in the internal space confronting the nip member. The reflection member is configured to reflect radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member. The backup member may provide a nip region with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member. The temperature sensor is disposed in the internal space and is configured to detect a temperature of the nip member. The temperature sensor is positioned outside of the reflection member and confronting the opposite surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a main body and a cartridge configured to be detachably attached to the main body, is provided. The cartridge includes a photosensitive member configured to carry an image formed in a developer agent thereon, a movable mechanism, and a developer roller configured to supply the developer agent to the photosensitive member. The movable mechanism is configured to shift between a first state, in which the developer roller is placed in a contact position to contact the photosensitive member, and a second state, in which the developer roller is placed in a separated position to be separated from the photosensitive member. The main body includes a detectable member configured to detect a state of the movable mechanism between the first state and the second state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member by using developer, a temperature detecting portion that detects information regarding the temperature of the developer in the developing device, and a density detecting portion that detects the density of a control image formed on the image bearing member. In addition, a controller controls the amount of the developer supplied to the developing device based on the detection result of the density of the control image, and a change portion changes an electric potential difference between an electric potential of the electrostatic latent image of the control image and a DC bias applied to the developing device so as to compensate for changing developing efficiency caused by temperature, based on the detection result acquired by the temperature detecting portion.