Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing belt, a heating roller, a nip portion forming member, a pressing rotary member, a suspending roller, and an urging unit. The heating roller is in contact with an inner surface of the fixing belt and heats the fixing belt. The suspending roller has a center and both ends in an area where the fixing belt and the suspending roller are in contact with each other in a width direction of the suspending roller. Outside diameters at both ends are greater than an outside diameter at the suspending roller center by a value between 50 micrometer and 300 micrometer, inclusive. The urging unit urges the suspending roller from the inner surface of the fixing belt toward an outer circumference surface of the fixing belt. A force that the urging unit applies to the suspending roller ranges between 50 newtons and 100 newtons, inclusive.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable endless belt, a pressing roller and a fixing pad. The pressing roller contacts an outer peripheral surface of the belt and forms a nip portion in cooperation with the belt. A toner image is formed in the nip portion and fixed onto the recording material by application of heat and pressure. The fixing pad contacts an inner peripheral surface of the belt. The fixing pad includes a contact area in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt. The contact area includes a downstream end portion with respect to a conveyance direction of the recording material. The downstream end portion includes a central portion and both end portions with respect to a widthwise direction of the belt. The central portion locates downstream of the both end portions with respect to the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion having one end provided with an opening, and drive receiving portion, a discharging portion including a receiving portion into which the one end of the accommodating portion is inserted, and a developer discharge opening, the accommodating portion being mounted to the discharging portion rotatably relative to the discharging portion; a sealing member sealing between the one end and the receiving portion; a projection radially projecting from an outer peripheral surface of the accommodating portion; and a first restricting portion and a second restricting portion provided on the receiving portion of the discharging portion at positions upstream and downstream of the projection, respectively in the inserting direction and contactable to the projection to restrict an inclination of the rotational axis of the accommodating portion relative to the inserting direction within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt, an outer roller, stretching rollers including an inner roller and an upstream roller, a voltage source, a supporting member, a moving mechanism, a sensor, and a controller. On the basis of a first detection result of the sensor acquired under application of a test bias in a state in which the supporting member is disposed at a first position, the controller determines a first transfer bias to be applied to the outer roller or the inner roller during an operation in a first mode. On the basis of a second detection result of the sensor acquired under application of the test bias in the state in which the supporting member is disposed at a second position, the controller determines a second transfer bias to be applied to the outer roller or the inner roller during an operation in a second mode.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes an accommodating portion, a discharging portion, a sealing member, a first restricting portion, and a second restricting portion positioned upstream of the first restricting portion with respect to an inserting direction of the accommodating portion. The seal member is provided between the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion with respect to a rotational axis direction of the accommodating portion.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container configured to accommodate a developer containing toner and a carrier, and a feeding screw provided rotatably in the developer container and configured to feed the developer in a predetermined feeding direction. The feeding screw includes a rotation shaft, and a first helical blade and a second helical blade which are formed around the rotation shaft and which form a multi-thread helical blade. The feeding screw includes a region in which a plate-like projection portion is provided on the rotation shaft between the first helical blade and the second helical blade. The plate-like projection portion is provided to contact an adjacent helical blade on a downstream side with respect to the feeding direction without contacting an adjacent helical blade on an upstream side with respect to the feeding direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container configured to accommodate a developer containing toner and a carrier and a feeding screw provided rotatably in the developer container and configured to feed the developer in a predetermined feeding direction. The feeding screw includes a rotation shaft, and a first helical blade and a second helical blade which are formed around the rotation shaft and which form a multi-thread helical blade. The feeding screw includes a region in which a plate-like projection portion is provided on the rotation shaft between the first helical blade and the second helical blade.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer carrying member (sleeve); a regulating portion including an edge portion at a closest position to a surface of the sleeve or a flat portion tilted, at the closest position, by an angle of 2 degrees or less relative to a contact flat plane contacting the surface of the sleeve; and a rectifying portion connected with the edge or flat portion. The rectifying portion has a concavely curved surface such that a rate of a decrease in gap between the rectifying portion and the contact flat plane increases toward a downstream side of the developer feeding direction and is formed by smoothly connecting rectilinear or curved lines each of 0.2 mm or less except for the edge portion so that the gap between the rectifying portion and the contact flat plane is monotonically decreases toward the downstream side of the developer feeding direction.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion having one end provided with an opening, and drive receiving portion, a discharging portion including a receiving portion into which the one end of the accommodating portion is inserted, and a developer discharge opening, the accommodating portion being mounted to the discharging portion rotatably relative to the discharging portion; a sealing member sealing between the one end and the receiving portion; a projection radially projecting from an outer peripheral surface of the accommodating portion; and a first restricting portion and a second restricting portion provided on the receiving portion of the discharging portion at positions upstream and downstream of the projection, respectively in the inserting direction and contactable to the projection to restrict an inclination of the rotational axis of the accommodating portion relative to the inserting direction within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes an accommodating portion, a discharging portion, a sealing member, a first restricting portion, and a second restricting portion positioned upstream of the first restricting portion with respect to an inserting direction of the accommodating portion. The seal member is provided between the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion with respect to a rotational axis direction of the accommodating portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt, an outer roller, stretching rollers including an inner roller and an upstream roller, a voltage source, a supporting member, a moving mechanism, a sensor, and a controller. On the basis of a first detection result of the sensor acquired under application of a test bias in a state in which the supporting member is disposed at a first position, the controller determines a first transfer bias applied to the outer roller or the inner roller during an operation in a first mode. On the basis of a second detection result of the sensor acquired under application of the test bias in the state in which the supporting member is disposed at a second position, the controller determines a second transfer bias applied to the outer roller or the inner roller during an operation in a second mode.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container configured to accommodate a developer containing toner and a carrier; and a feeding screw provided rotatably in the developer container and configured to feed the developer in a predetermined feeding direction, the feeding screw including a rotation shaft, and a first helical blade and a second helical blade which are formed around the rotation shaft and which form a multi-thread helical blade. The feeding screw includes a region in which a plate-like projection portion is provided on the rotation shaft between the first helical blade and the second helical blade. The plate-like projection portion is provided so as to contact an adjacent helical blade on a downstream side with respect to the feeding direction without contacting an adjacent helical blade on an upstream side with respect to the feeding direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container configured to accommodate a developer containing toner and a carrier; and a feeding screw provided rotatably in the developer container and configured to feed the developer in a predetermined feeding direction, the feeding screw including a rotation shaft, and a first helical blade and a second helical blade which are formed around the rotation shaft and which form a multi-thread helical blade. The feeding screw includes a region in which a plate-like projection portion is provided on the rotation shaft between the first helical blade and the second helical blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharging device that discharges a sheet to which a toner image is transferred. The discharging device is disposed on a side opposite to a transfer surface of the sheet to which the toner image is transferred downstream from a nip portion between an intermediate transfer belt and an external secondary transfer roller in a sheet conveyance direction. The discharging device includes a grounded first discharging plate, and a grounded second discharging plate which is disposed downstream from the first discharging plate in the sheet conveyance direction at an angle different from an angle of the first discharging plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, a first openable portion provided on a first side of the main assembly, a second openable portion provided on a second side of the main assembly, a single projector portion, a first projecting portion configured to project the image from above the first openable portion onto a projection object provided on the first side or onto the first openable portion when the first openable portion is open, and a second projecting portion configured to project the image from above the second openable portion onto a projection object provided on the second side or onto the second openable portion when the second openable portion is open.

Abstract: An opposing surface of a partition opposing a first conveyance screw includes an arc-shaped guide portion for guiding conveyance of developer at least on an upstream side in a first conveyance direction of the first conveyance screw. The guide portion is extended from a bottom portion of a first chamber opposing the first conveyance screw and formed along an outer periphery of the first conveyance screw. As seen in a cross section orthogonal to a rotation axis of the first conveyance screw, the opposing surface of the partition within a predetermined area includes the guide portion over an angle of 30% or more of the predetermined area in a direction of rotation of the first conveyance screw.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method for controlling an image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a detecting unit, a projecting unit, and a control unit. The detecting unit is configured to detect an event that needs user work on the image forming apparatus. The projecting unit is configured to project an image onto a projection target. The control unit is configured to control projection by the projecting unit. When an event that needs user work on the image forming apparatus is detected, the projecting unit projects an image onto a projection target so that a target portion of the user work can be identified and also projects an instruction image for performing the user work.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharging device that discharges a sheet to which a toner image is transferred. The discharging device is disposed on a side opposite to a transfer surface of the sheet to which the toner image is transferred downstream from a nip portion between an intermediate transfer belt and an external secondary transfer roller in a sheet conveyance direction. The discharging device includes a grounded first discharging plate, and a grounded second discharging plate which is disposed downstream from the first discharging plate in the sheet conveyance direction at an angle different from an angle of the first discharging plate.

Abstract: A stretching roller for stretching an intermediate transfer belt is tiltably disposed, and includes a sliding ring unrotatably disposed at both axial ends of a roller portion. The intermediate transfer belt winds and slidably rotates around the sliding ring. The sliding ring has a tapered portion inclined so that the outer diameter increases toward the axial end side of the stretching roller. The tapered portion is formed so that the inclination angle with respect to the central axis of the stretching roller differs at least in part in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer carrying member (sleeve); a regulating portion including an edge portion at a closest position to a surface of the sleeve or a flat portion tilted, at the closest position, by an angle of 2 degrees or less relative to a contact flat plane contacting the surface of the sleeve; and a rectifying portion connected with the edge or flat portion. The rectifying portion has a concavely curved surface such that a rate of a decrease in gap between the rectifying portion and the contact flat plane increases toward a downstream side of the developer feeding direction and is formed by smoothly connecting rectilinear or curved lines each of 0.2 mm or less except for the edge portion so that the gap between the rectifying portion and the contact flat plane is monotonically decreases toward the downstream side of the developer feeding direction.