Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, a charging voltage source, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer member, a transfer voltage source, a voltage detecting portion, a current detecting portion, and an executing portion. In a test mode, the executing portion gradually changes a value of a current caused to flow through the transfer member from zero to a predetermined target transfer current and sets the current caused to flow through the transfer member as the predetermined target transfer current, and then gradually changes a current caused to flow through the charging member from zero to an obtained charging current when a region of the photosensitive member subsequently passes through the charging portion and sets the current caused to flow through the charging member when a region of the photosensitive member subsequently passes through the charging portion as the obtained charging current.

Abstract: A pressure member includes a base, an elastic layer outside the base, and a surface layer on the elastic layer, the surface layer containing a fluorine-containing resin. The surface layer is fixed on the elastic layer in a state of being stretched in the longitudinal direction of the pressure member, the elastic layer has a porosity of 20% by volume or more and 60% by volume or less, and when the elastic modulus of the elastic layer in the thickness direction is defined as E (ND) and the elastic modulus of the elastic layer in the longitudinal direction of the pressure member is defined as E (MD), E (MD)/E (ND) is larger than 1.0.

Abstract: When a toner cartridge is mounted to an image forming apparatus, if the toner cartridge is new, the image forming apparatus sets a value calculated from cartridge capacity as an initial value of a toner remaining amount. If, when the toner cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, the toner cartridge is not new, the image forming apparatus sets a value calculated from a page count number as the initial value of the toner remaining amount. Furthermore, when the toner cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus acquires a sensor value, and if the acquired sensor value is an indefinite value, the image forming apparatus determines an alternative value according to sensor ability as the initial value of the toner remaining amount.

Abstract: A developer accommodating container for accommodating developer for image formation. The developer accommodating container includes a first flexible member having a folded shape and a second flexible member for forming a space for accommodating the developer by covering a part of the first flexible member. The first flexible container and the second flexible container form an injection opening for permitting injection of developer into the space. As seen from an injection direction, the folded shape has a recess.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming station; heating and pressing rollers forming a fixing nip therebetween; a mechanism for changing the relative positional relation between the heating and pressing rollers between a contacting position in which they contact each other, a first spacing position in which they are spaced, and the second spacing position in which they are spaced by a shorter distance; and a controller for controlling the changing mechanism such that in a period after the sheet passes through the fixing nip and before a next sheet reaches the fixing nip, the rollers are brought into the first spacing position when the period is longer than a first predetermined period, and that the rollers are brought into the second spacing position when the period is shorter than the first predetermined period and is longer than a second predetermined period.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a direct-current (DC) power supply configured to output a DC voltage; an alternating-current (AC) power supply configured to selectively output a superimposed voltage in which an AC voltage is superimposed on the DC voltage output from the DC power supply or the DC voltage output from the DC power supply; and a transfer unit configured to transfer a developer to a sheet using the voltage output from the AC power supply.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a moving surface for transferring a developed toner image during an image transfer operation, a sensing unit for detecting the amount of residual toner remaining on the moving surface after the image transfer operation, and a cleaning unit for selectively cleaning the residual toner from the moving surface. A controller coupled to the sensing unit and the cleaning unit selectively adjusts an operating characteristic of the cleaning unit based on the amount of residual toner detected by the sensing unit.

Abstract: A toner supply system including a toner receiving apparatus and a toner supply container detachably mountable to the toner receiving apparatus. The toner supply container includes a container body containing toner, a discharge port permitting discharging of the toner in the container body, and a feeding portion feeding the toner in the container body. The toner receiving apparatus includes a toner receiving portion receiving the toner from the toner supply container, a driving mechanism engageable with the container body to rotationally drive the container body, and a regulating mechanism movable between a regulating position where rotation of the container body, which is in a set position and engaged with the driving mechanism, is regulated, and a releasing position, where regulation of rotation of the container body, which is in a set position and engaged with the driving mechanism, is released.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer, including: a flexible container, provided with an opening for permitting discharge of the developer, for accommodating the developer; a sealing member for sealing the opening; and a frame, including a first frame and a second frame, for accommodating the flexible container in a space formed by mounting the first frame to the second frame and for accommodating the developer discharged through the opening of the flexible container when the opening is unsealed. The flexible container is deformed adjacent to longitudinal end portions thereof in a mounting direction of the first frame toward the second frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a recording medium, a forming unit that forms a toner image including a test pattern, a fixing unit that heats the toner image formed on the recording medium by the forming unit and fixes the toner image on the recording medium, and a controller that controls an amount of heat to be applied to the toner image by the fixing unit, on the basis of a difference between an amount of toner of the test pattern formed by the forming unit and a predetermined reference amount of toner.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for determining viscosity, surface tension and/or surface tension/viscosity ratio are presented. The methods use the measurement of liquid penetration rate in a test medium to evaluate liquid properties. In particular the methods and apparatuses can be used to determine the quality of frying or cooking oils in terms of polymer or polar compounds. The point of rejection of frying oils according to recommendations and legal limits can be determined. In one embodiment the time required for the oil to penetrate a given distance in a test strip is measured. The time is related to the above liquid (oil) properties and can be correlated to the amount of polymer and/or polar compounds in the oil sample.

Abstract: A developer container may include a container body accommodating developer, a conveyance member, and a rotation member having a rotary shaft and an elastic part supported by the rotation member and configured to convey the developer. The container body may include a first support part to which the rotary shaft is loosely fitted, and a second support part that supports the rotary shaft. The container body may further include a sliding contact part that the elastic part sliding-contacts while being elastically deformed when the conveyance member is being rotated. In some examples, a distance from a center of the rotary shaft to a leading end of the elastic part gradually increases from the one end portion-side of the rotary shaft towards the other end portion-side of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer belt, a plurality of rollers, a cleaning unit, a brush unit, and a pressing member. The brush unit is located at the outer circumferential surface part of the intermediate transfer belt in contact with the roller. The brush unit is located at upstream of a contacting part with the cleaning unit in a running direction of the intermediate transfer belt. The brush unit is configured to impart electric charge to the remnant toner by a contact friction with the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt. The pressing member is configured to press the brush unit along a direction of contact/separation with respect to the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that can fully reduce toner consumption. The image forming apparatus includes a memory part and a toner saving processing part. The memory part memorizes a toner saving table having a toner saving mode, a toner remaining threshold, a printing permission language, a language changing permission, and a changed classification. The toner saving processing part selects, when a specific fixed form document is printed according to a setup of the toner saving table memorized in the memory part, a language allowable to print with a least dot number for a specific fixed form document from a plurality of set languages. The toner saving processing part has a first saving mode that selects the language for each page when remaining toner amount is within a first range.

Abstract: A replenishing apparatus includes a rotatable cylindrical-shaped container having a discharge opening through which toner is discharged, and a guide member provided rotatably with the container. The guide member has a first face on an inner face of the container and a second face which guides the toner scooped by the first face toward the discharge opening. A controller controls a drive portion to rotate the container in a first mode that performs replenishment control in a first drive condition and in a second mode that performs replenishment control in a second drive condition in which a quantity of rotation of the container per unit time is less than the first drive condition. The controller switches the mode from the first mode to the second mode based on a detection result about a quantity of developer.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container body, a movable wall, and a detection sensor. The container body includes an inner surface defining a cylindrical internal space. The internal space is in the form of a cylinder extending in a first direction. The container body is formed with a developer discharge port communicating with the internal space. The movable wall includes an outer surface and a conveying surface. The outer surface is disposed in close contact with the inner surface of the container body. The conveying surface defines a storage space configured to contain the developer in cooperation with the inner surface of the container body. The movable wall moves in the first direction from one end side to the other end side of the internal space. The detection sensor is provided on the container body near the developer discharge port and detects the developer in the storage space.

Abstract: A belt fuser assembly which dispenses lubricant oil or other depleted lubricant component to the inner surface of the fuser belt. The belt fuser assembly may include a lubricant dispenser positioned to be heated by the heating element of the fuser assembly for dispensing a lubricant oil to the inner surface of the fuser belt. The lubricant dispenser may include a reservoir containing the lubricant oil and an exit port for delivering the lubricant oil from the reservoir to the inner surface of the fuser belt upon the reservoir being heated by the heating element at a temperature above the fusing temperature of the belt fuser assembly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which forms an image at an image forming interval and feeding timing corresponding to a predetermined recording material size, includes a control unit (a controller unit and an engine control unit) for controlling the feeding timing to be earlier, when the size of a recording material detected by a detection unit (the engine control unit and an registration sensor) is smaller than the predetermined recording material size.

Abstract: An electrophotographic fixing member includes a substrate, a cured silicone rubber layer and a fluorine resin layer bonded onto the cured silicone rubber layer, wherein a micro hardness of a cured silicone rubber constituting the cured silicone rubber layer is designated as H?0, and a micro hardness of a rubber obtained by soaking the cured silicone rubber in a methyl hydrogen silicone oil for 24 hours and then further curing the cured silicone rubber, is designated as H?1, H?1/H?0 is 1.5 or more and 5.0 or less, and the cured silicone rubber layer comprises a titanium oxide crystal having an anatase type structure.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. A driver is connected to the heat shield to drive and move the heat shield between a shield position where the heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater and a retracted position where the heat shield is retracted from the shield position. A reinforcement is mounted on a long edge of the heat shield.