Abstract: The detection sensitivity of a variation in resonant frequency is increased, and thus a toner concentration is accurately detected. In a sensor device that includes an LC resonant circuit which outputs a pulse signal having a frequency corresponding to the toner concentration, a multiplier portion which multiplies the pulse signal output from the LC resonant circuit and a concentration detection portion which detects the toner concentration based on the pulse signal multiplied by the multiplier portion, the LC resonant circuit includes a detection coil and a capacitor and outputs a pulse signal having a frequency corresponding to the toner concentration. The multiplier portion multiplies the frequency of the pulse signal output from the LC resonant circuit. The concentration detection portion subtracts a predetermined offset pulse number from the pulse signal multiplied by the multiplier portion and detects the toner concentration based on the subtracted pulse number.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a holding member holding a toner container with a discharge port, and a shutter opening/closing the discharge port and having a communicating port communicable with the discharge port; a connecting member forming a toner conveying path, and connecting to/retracting from the shutter in conjunction with an operation of mounting/removing the toner container; a first locking portion movable between a first position to locate the shutter in a non-communicating position and a second position to lock the shutter in a communicating position when the toner container is mounted; and a second locking portion locatable in a position to connect the connecting member to the shutter, and in a position to lock the connecting member in a position where the connecting member is separated away from the shutter when the toner container is mounted.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a fixation unit supported by a support member and configured to be heated by a heater and thereby fix an image attached on a print medium onto the print medium; a first temperature detector attached to the support member to detect a temperature of a vicinity of the fixation unit and output a first detection temperature; a second temperature detector attached to the support member to detect a temperature of the support member and output a second detection temperature; a medium width detector provided to detect a width of the print medium and output a detected width; and a heat controller configured to change a control condition in accordance with the second detection temperature, a calorific value of the heater and the detected width, and to thereby control a temperature of the fixation unit.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir, an exit for exiting toner and an entry port for receiving waste toner. A partition divides the reservoir into a first compartment for storing fresh toner and a second compartment for storing waste toner. The first compartment is in fluid communication with the exit. The partition is movable within the reservoir between a first position and a second position. The entry port is in fluid communication with the first compartment when the partition is in the first position such that waste toner received through the entry port is deposited into the first compartment. The entry port is in fluid communication with the second compartment but closed off from the first compartment when the partition is in the second position such that waste toner received through the entry port is deposited into the second compartment.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a first frame; and a second frame melt-bonded to the first frame. The first frame includes: a first melt-bonding surface; and a second melt-bonding surface closer to a developing roller than the first melt-bonding surface. The second frame includes: a third melt-bonding surface; a fourth melt-bonding surface; and a center surface facing the first frame. The center surface is closer to an axial center region of the developing roller than the fourth melt-bonding surface in the axial direction. The center surface has a first center surface and a second center surface closer to the developing roller than the first center surface in the first direction. The second center surface forms an obtuse angle with the first center surface and is separated from the first frame farther than the fourth melt-bonding surface in a direction perpendicular to the fourth melt-bonding surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section including a rotational member and configured to form an image on the long sheet; a density unevenness cycle acquiring section configured to acquire a cycle of a density profile that represents density variation in a sub scanning direction; a cycle control section configured to operate such that, in a case where a same image is continuously formed on the long sheet, a length of the image in the sub scanning direction is an integer multiple of a cycle length that corresponds to one cycle of the density profile; and a density correction section configured to form a patch image for correction that has a size greater than the cycle length of the density profile on the image bearing member, and perform density correction using correction data created based on a detection result regarding the patch image for correction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station having an image bearing member for bearing a latent image and a developing device for developing the latent image formed on the image bearing member using toner, a toner container for accommodating toner to be supplied to the developing device, the toner container being provided with an expansion-and-contraction portion capable of being expanded and contracted in a longitudinal direction thereof by being driven, and a holding member for holding the toner container. In addition, a first side plate supports one end portion of the holding member, a second side plate supports the other end portion of the holding member, and a driving device drives the image forming station. The holding member is supported by the first side plate so as to be movable relative to the first side plate in the longitudinal direction and is fixed to the second side plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an electric power supply, a plurality of modules, a startup time calculator, and a fastest startup pattern determiner. The plurality of modules include a plurality of direct current (DC) modules and at least one alternating current (AC) module, and the modules are to be driven by an electric power supplied from the electric power supply. The startup time calculator calculates a startup time of each of the modules. The fastest startup pattern determiner determines a fastest startup pattern based on the startup time of each of the modules calculated by the startup time calculator, and starts up the modules in accordance with the determined fastest startup pattern. The fastest startup pattern is determined based on a longest startup time among the startup times of the DC and AC modules.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a photosensitive member, a developing unit, an exposure member including a light emitting element array, a covering member, and a cover operation mechanism. The developing unit includes a developer carrying member configured to carry a developer supplied to the photosensitive member. The exposure unit is configured to expose the photosensitive member to form a latent image on the photosensitive member. The covering member is configured to move between a cover position where the covering member covers the exposure member between the photosensitive member and the exposure member and a retracted position where the covering member is retracted from between the photosensitive member and the exposure member. The cover operation mechanism is configured to hold the covering member in the retracted position at least when the exposure member forms the latent image on the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device; a temperature detecting unit measuring a temperature of a main body; a cooling unit cooling the inside of the image forming apparatus; and a controller controlling the cooling unit based on result of the temperature detecting unit. The controller increases an air flow rate of the cooling unit such that the air flow rate is higher than a predetermined rate if the result of the temperature detecting unit is higher than a first temperature during non image forming and the controller increases an air flow rate of the cooling unit such that the air flow rate is higher than the predetermined rate if the result of the temperature detecting unit is higher than a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature during an image forming operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units. A first image forming unit includes a first image carrier, a first developer carrier that is applied with a first developing voltage, and a first layer-forming member that is applied with a first layer-forming voltage having the same polarity as polarity of the first developing voltage. The second image forming unit includes a second image carrier, a second developer carrier that is applied with a second developing voltage, and a second layer-forming member that is applied with a second layer-forming voltage having the same polarity as polarity of the second developing voltage. An absolute value of the first layer-forming voltage is smaller than an absolute value of the first developing voltage. An absolute value of the second layer-forming voltage is greater than an absolute value of the second developing voltage.

Abstract: Apparatus is described which, in use, applies a thin film of a wetting agent, such as water or a water-based solution, onto paper or other print medium before applying a liquid toner. The wetting agent is applied at a predetermined distance from an image transfer area. The wetting agent acts to promote adhesion of the liquid toner to the print medium. The adhesion of the liquid toner to the print medium is further improved by supplying the wetting agent at a temperature higher than room temperature.

Abstract: A powder conveying device, including: a powder conveying path including a curved portion; and a conveying screw, wherein the conveying screw is disposed in the powder conveying path, and includes: a rotation axis portion having flexibility; and a blade portion, where the blade portion is helically formed on an outer periphery of the rotation axis portion, and is configured to convey a powder, wherein the conveying screw includes a conveying screw curved portion located in the curved portion of the powder conveying path, and wherein at least a surface of the blade portion of the conveying screw curved portion includes a slipping layer containing a silicon-containing compound.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating roller and a pressuring roller, a first holding member, a supporting member and a temperature detecting part. The heating roller and pressuring roller sandwiches and heats a sheet to fix a toner image formed on the sheet onto the sheet. The first holding member has a facing part facing to a circumference face of the heating roller to hold the heating roller. The supporting member is made of material with high heat resisting property as compared with the first holding member, arranged between the facing part of the first holding member and the circumference face of the heating roller so as to face to the circumference face of the heating roller, and formed in an elongated shape along an axial direction of the heating roller. The temperature detecting part is arranged in the supporting member to detect temperature of the heating roller.

Abstract: An image display apparatus and an image processing apparatus include an imaging unit, a display unit, a detection unit, a measurement unit, and a notification unit. The imaging unit images an operator. The imaging unit performs imaging on an operator. The display unit displays operation information for performing image processing. The detection unit detects viewing of the display unit by the operator on a basis of a result of the imaging performed by the imaging unit. The measurement unit accumulatively measures a time in which the detection unit detects the viewing. The notification unit provides a notification of guidance according to the image processing when the accumulatively measured time exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A positioning member has a positioning surface that abuts an inner peripheral surface of an intermediate transfer belt to perform the positioning of the intermediate transfer belt with respect to a density detection sensor and a cleaning surface coated with a cleaning member having hardness lower than that of the positioning surface and abutting the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt via the cleaning member. When a correction process is performed by a density correction section, the positioning surface of the positioning member 36 abuts the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and when the correction process is not performed by the density correction section, the cleaning surface of the positioning member abuts the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a heater for heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater in a variable circumferential direct heating span of the fixing rotary body where the heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotary body directly. A controller is operatively connected to the heater and the heat shield to move the heat shield after the controller turns on the heater as a print job starts so as to change an area of the direct heating span of the fixing rotary body.

Abstract: According to an embodiments, provided is a fixing device that includes: an endless fixing belt, heats and melts a toner image, and has flexibility; a stationary member that is set stationary on an inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belt and comes into contact under pressure to form a nip portion; and a reinforcement member that is set stationary on the inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belt and comes into abutment with the stationary member. If it is assumed that a length of the nip portion in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium is designated as A; and a length between an upstream-side abutment portion and a downstream-side abutment portion at which the stationary member and the reinforcement member come into abutment with each other is designated as B, following relation is established: A<B, and interval B includes interval A.

Abstract: Disclosed is a packing structure of a developer container, including a developer container that contains a developer and is formed with a supply port for supply of the developer, a transport member that is provided in the developer container and transports the developer to the supply port while stirring the developer, a packing member that packs the developer container from an end portion of the transport member in an axial direction thereof to a central portion of the transport member in the axial direction, and a unit that moves the transport member by an operation of detaching the packing member from the developer container.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication connector arranged on an image-forming apparatus body to provide communications with an information storage device including a guide portion and installed on a detachable device. The connector includes a body terminal which, when the detachable device is attached to the apparatus body, contacts a contact terminal of the information storage device, and a body projection extending in a moving direction of the detachable device and having a slope at its distal end. The body terminal is arranged on the body projection and configured not to project further than the slope, to be exposed to outside from a portion other than the slope, and to contact the contact terminal inside the guide portion when the body projection is inserted thereinto. An inclination angle ? of an end portion of the slope is not smaller than an inclination angle ?1 of the slope.