Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a photoconductive drum and a boss that protrudes outward from a first longitudinal end of the toner cartridge at a rotational axis of the photoconductive drum. An outermost axial segment of the boss along the rotational axis includes a partial cylinder having a cross-sectional shape of a circular segment. An outer circumferential surface of the partial cylinder is convex to a bottom of the toner cartridge and forms a bottom contact surface of the boss that is unobstructed to contact and sit in a corresponding V-block in an image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The outermost axial segment of the boss includes clearance above a topmost portion of the partial cylinder and within the radius of the outer circumferential surface of the partial cylinder permitting the clearance to accommodate one or more features in the image forming device.

Abstract: In an example, a print apparatus comprises an intermediate transfer member to receive thermoplastic print agent from a photoconductive surface, a rotatably mounted endless cleaning surface to receive a layer of thermoplastic print agent from the intermediate transfer member and a heater, to heat the endless cleaning surface. The endless cleaning surface may be to engage with the intermediate transfer member when heated to transfer residue from the intermediate transfer member to the layer of thermoplastic print agent on the endless cleaning surface.

Abstract: A heating device includes a tubular rotator that rotates and a heat source that heats the tubular rotator. A thermal conductor includes a first face that contacts the tubular rotator and a second face that is opposite the first face. A first thickness portion is disposed in a first span of the thermal conductor in a longitudinal direction of the thermal conductor. The first thickness portion has a first thickness. A second thickness portion is disposed in at least a part of a second span of the thermal conductor in the longitudinal direction of the thermal conductor. The second span is different from the first span. The second thickness portion has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness of the first thickness portion. The second thickness portion includes a folded portion that is disposed on the second face.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a toner detection sensor, a storage unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit includes an image carrier, a charging device, an exposure device, and a developing device. The toner detection sensor detects toner in the developing device. The control unit predicts transition of the toner deterioration degree in the developing device using the toner consumption amount and the cumulative operating time stored in the storage unit, and a predetermined toner deterioration model. The control unit is capable of measuring the toner deterioration degree based on amplitude of an output value of the toner detection sensor, and corrects the toner deterioration model, if the measured value of the toner deterioration degree is apart from the predicted value of the toner deterioration degree by a predetermined value or more.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a sheet includes a rotatable fixing belt; a heating roller wherein the belt is stretched and entrained around the heating roller to heat the belt; a pressing pad of resin material provided inside of the belt; a rotatable pressing member contacting an outer peripheral surface of the belt and pressing against the pad through the belt to form a nip configured to nip and feed the sheet; a supporting metal stay supporting the pad and including a planar bottom surface faced to the pad; and projected portions integrally molded with the pad and provided along a widthwise direction of the pad, the projected portions projecting and contacting to the bottom surface such that the pad is supported by the stay. A contact area between the projected portions and the bottom surface is not less than 5% and not more than 40% of the area of the bottom surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an intermediary transfer belt, a transfer member, a voltage source for applying a voltage to the transfer member, a detecting portion for detecting a current flowing through the transfer member, and a controller for carrying out constant-voltage control so that the voltage applied to the transfer member becomes a target voltage when a recording material P passes through a transfer portion. The controller is capable of changing the voltage applied to the transfer member so that a detection result detected by the detecting portion during transfer falls within a predetermined range. The controller changes the predetermined range on the basis of the detection result detected by the detecting portion when the voltage is applied to the transfer member in a state in which the recording material P is absent in the transfer portion.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a heat generating element having a first area, a second area, and a third area, the first area being located on an end portion side in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording material and having a first heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction, the second area being located on an inner side than the first area in the orthogonal direction and having a second heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction, the third area being located on the inner side than the second area in the orthogonal direction and having a third heat generation amount per unit length in the orthogonal direction. The second heat generation amount is larger than the third heat generation amount, and the third heat generation amount is larger than the first heat generation amount.

Abstract: According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor and a nontransitory computer readable medium storing machine readable instructions that when executed by the processor may cause the processor to receive a requested power demand from a first heating component and a second heating component, compare the requested power demand to a first threshold, and select a sequencing and stacking group of a plurality of sequencing and stacking groups for the first heating component and the second heating component corresponding to a result of the requested power demand being compared to the first threshold. The instructions may also cause the processor to control application of power to the first heating component and the second heating component according to the selected sequencing and stacking group.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image, a reader having a transparent member, the reader being configured to read an original through intermediation of the transparent member, a document feeder configured to feed the original in order to read the original by the reader, a reader image processor, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the image forming unit to form a test chart on a sheet, to control the reader image processor to detect the dust on the transparent member based on a result of reading the test chart, and to generate a conversion condition based on other signal values excluding an abnormal signal value caused by the dust on the transparent member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to mitigate deterioration of printing fluid in a tank of a printer. The method comprises: draining printing fluid from a tank of a printer, and stopping the draining before the tank is empty, wherein the printing fluid comprises solids suspended in imaging oil, filtering the printing fluid drained from the tank, to separate at least some of the solids from the imaging oil, passing the filtered imaging oil to a reservoir; and then passing imaging oil from the reservoir to the tank. Also disclosed is a printer and a system to perform the method.

Abstract: A paper feeding device of an embodiment includes a paper feed cassette, an alignment component, a fan, and a fan guiding duct component. A paper bundle in which a plurality of sheets of paper are stacked can be placed on the paper feed cassette. The alignment component can align the paper bundle placed on the paper feed cassette. The fan is connected to the alignment component. The fan can generate airflow. The fan guiding duct component is connected to the alignment component. The fan guiding duct component is positioned above the paper bundle placed on the paper feed cassette. The fan guiding duct component generates a negative pressure between the fan guiding duct component and an uppermost sheet of paper in the paper bundle due to the airflow from the fan.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier, a transfer unit, a driver, a hardware processor, an adjustment mechanism, and a speed detector. The hardware processor sets a command value. The hardware processor performs a constant-torque control based on a constant-speed drive torque detected in a constant-speed control. In the constant-torque control, the hardware processor performs a feedback control to set a reference value to an average speed of the driver during passage of a first sheet and calculate a difference from an average speed during passage of a subsequent sheet so as to derive the command value. The hardware processor determines whether a load torque increase, its factor, and/or its influence exceeds a threshold, and forcibly sets the reference value to a speed detected while a pressure between the transfer unit and the image carrier is reduced by the adjustment mechanism from the pressure during image transfer.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a device body, a fixing unit, a pair of decurling units, and an open/close unit. The fixing unit is disposed on the device body to perform a fixing operation on a recording medium, and includes a removal assistance unit to assist removal of the recording medium. The pair of decurling units are disposed on the device body to correct a curl of the recording medium by holding the recording medium therebetween. The open/close unit is openably and closeably disposed on the device body to separate, when opened, the removal assistance unit from the fixing unit and one of the decurling units from the other decurling unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heater including a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion disposed at a first lateral end and a second lateral end of a tube in a longitudinal direction of a fixing rotator, respectively. The first sealing portion includes a first inboard end distanced from a first lateral end of a heat generating portion with a first distance in the longitudinal direction of the fixing rotator. The second sealing portion includes a second inboard end distanced from a second lateral end of the heat generating portion with a second distance in the longitudinal direction of the fixing rotator. The second distance is smaller than the first distance. A driving force transmitter transmits a driving force to the fixing rotator or an opposed rotator and is disposed in a first lateral end side of the fixing device where the first sealing portion is disposed.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a changing portion configured to change a state of a first rotary member and a second rotary member between a first pressurization state and a second pressurization state. A control portion is configured to control the driving source and the changing unit and capable of performing first control that causes the driving source to rotate the first rotary member and then stop the first rotary member, while continuing the first pressurization state from a last image forming operation, and second control that causes the changing portion to change the state of the first rotary member and the second rotary member from the first pressurization state to the second pressurization state.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member, a first conveyance screw arranged in a first chamber to convey developer in a first direction, and a second conveyance screw arranged in a second chamber convey the developer in an opposite second direction. A toner density detector is arranged in the second chamber to detect toner density of the developer in a circulation path. The second conveyance screw includes a first blade portion having a helical shape, a second blade portion having a helical shape of a same turn direction as the first blade portion, a gap portion provided between the first and second blade portions, and a plurality of agitating portions provided in the gap portion. Each of the agitating portions has a wall portion provided to intersect a rotational axis direction of the second conveyance screw and a recessed portion having a shape in which a portion of a periphery of the wall portion is recessed.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming unit including a photosensitive unit including an image bearing member, a developing unit including a developer bearing member and a container capable of containing a developer, a rotation shaft, the developing unit being rotated around the rotation shaft and positioned at one of a development position where the developer bearing member supplies the developer to the image bearing member and a separation position where the developer bearing member separates from the image bearing member, and a sensing portion sensing a variation or an amount corresponding to an amount of the developer contained in the developing unit. The rotation shaft is located below a developing portion, which is formed of the image bearing member and the developer bearing member, in a gravity direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an air communication port, and an outer casing covering an outside of a frame member of the image forming apparatus. The outer casing includes a first side surface facing in one of a first direction and a second side surface facing in one of a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first side surface includes a first surface portion extending in a vertical direction, a second surface portion offset in the first direction from the first surface portion toward the inside of the image forming apparatus, and a third surface portion connecting the first and second surface portions. The third surface portion is provided with the air communication port penetrating the outer casing. The first, second surface and third surface portions extend to the second side surface.

Abstract: A toner image fixing device include a fixing belt; a heating roller training the belt around; a pressing pad of resin material provided inside the belt; a rotatable pressing member contacting the belt and pressing against the pad through the belt to form a nip for nipping and feeding the sheet; a supporting stay supporting the pad and including a surface contacting the pad, one of the pad and the stay being provided with a projection, and the other being provided with a recess engaged with the projection at an engaging position; and a separation plate provided without contact to the belt at a position opposed to the pad downstream of the nip in the sheet feeding direction. A distance between the engaging position and a downstream end of the pad is 0-35% of a length of the pad measured along the feeding direction.

Abstract: A fuser including an endless belt, a pressurizing roller, a heater, a shaft supporting member, rotation member, and a washer. The pressurizing roller is to form a heating nip with the endless belt and is to rotate to drive the endless belt. The heater is to supply heat to the heating nip. The supporting member includes a shaft and a flange The rotation member is inserted into an inner diameter portion of the endless belt to support the endless belt, the rotation member is to be slidably rotatable with respect to the shaft. A washer interposed between the rotation member and the flange in an axial direction to regulate a movement of the endless belt in the axial direction, the washer is to slide-contact with at least one of the flange and the rotation member.