Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of photoconductive elements arranged on an inclined plane with respect to the ground, a plurality of developing devices, each of the plurality of developing devices corresponding to one of the plurality of photoconductive elements and configured to develop an image on a corresponding one of the plurality of photoconductive elements and a plurality of mirrors and a polygon mirror disposed inside a single housing and configured to reflect light beams to the plurality of photoconductive elements, the housing being arranged parallel to the inclining plane and below the plurality of photoconductive elements.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first writing control device configured to control a writing of a first latent image, a second writing control device configured to control a writing of a second latent image, and a criterion timing determination device configured to determine a criterion timing for a series of image forming operations based on an image forming instruction and to transmit to the first writing control device one of (i) a signal of the criterion timing, or (ii) a signal of a writing instruction determined based on the criterion timing. The first writing control device is configured to start a writing process of the first latent image based on one of the signal of the criterion timing or the signal of the writing instruction received from the criterion timing determination device, and to transmit a signal of a timing for starting a writing process to the second writing control device.

Abstract: A belt member of the present invention includes ribs that prevent the belt member from being shifted to either side. A plurality of cuts are formed in each rib at preselected intervals in the circumferential direction of the belt member, and each extends from the top toward the bottom of the rib. The cuts may be replaced with projections and recesses alternating with each other in the cicumferential direction of the belt member or bores formed at preselected intervals in the above direction. Such ribs allow, without being subject to a heavy load, the belt member to be wrapped around a support roller with a large curvature or bent in the inverse direction. This reduces deterioration and slippage ascribable to the position of the belt member desirable for the size reduction of an apparatus on which the belt member is mounted.

Abstract: An image forming method begins with a first image transfer step for thermally transferring a first toner image from a first image carrier to a second image carrier contacting it. Subsequently, in a second image transfer step, the first toner image carried on the second image carrier and a second toner image newly formed on the first image carrier are thermally transferred to opposite sides of a recording medium substantially at the same time. Higher image transfer temperature is assigned to the second image transfer step than to the first image transfer step. An impurity collecting device is associated with a pair of registration rollers which stop the recording medium for a moment to thereby synchronize the recording medium to the toner image.

Abstract: A belt member is formed in an annular shape, which enables endless circulation of the belt member, and includes a belt base; a mark that is formed with a light reflective material; and a protection layer that is formed with a translucent material. The protection layer covers the mark, and the mark and the protection layer are arranged on a surface of the belt member on an inner side of the annular shape.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of forming images on both sides of a recording medium of the present invention includes a first image carrier on which a toner image to be formed, and a second image carrier to which the toner image is transferred from the first image carrier. The toner image transferred from the image carrier to the second image carrier is transferred to one side of the recording medium while a toner image is transferred from the first image carrier to the other side of the recording medium. After the toner image has been transferred from the first image carrier to the second image carrier, the running condition of the second image carrier is varied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an optical unit emitting light in accordance with image information that is inclined in a prescribed direction. At least two image bearing members bearing a latent image formed by the light emitted from the optical unit are provided that have shafts arranged on a line inclining in the prescribed direction. At least two developing units are provided for developing the at least two latent images with toner. Shafts of the at least two developing means units are also arranged on a line inclining in the prescribed direction. An intermediate transfer belt is provided to receive and superimpose the toner images from the at least two image bearing members at a first transfer station. The intermediate transfer belt also inclines in the prescribed direction. A transfer unit is connected to a cover of a main body and transfers the superimposed toner images from the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium at a second transfer station.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of forming images on both sides of a recording medium of the present invention includes a first image carrier on which a toner image to be formed, and a second image carrier to which the toner image is transferred from the first image carrier. The toner image transferred from the image carrier to the second image carrier is transferred to one side of the recording medium while a toner image is transferred from the first image carrier to the other side of the recording medium. After the toner image has been transferred from the first image carrier to the second image carrier, the running condition of the second image carrier is varied.

Abstract: An image transferring device of the present invention includes a first and a second intermediate image transfer body whose surfaces endlessly move while forming a nip in contact with each other. When a sheet nipped by the nip is being conveyed toward a side downstream of the nip in the direction in which the above surfaces move, a first toner image transferred from an image carrier to the second intermediate image transfer body via the first intermediate image transfer body beforehand is transferred to one side of the sheet. At the same time, a second toner image transferred from the image carrier to the first image transfer body beforehand is transferred to the other side of the sheet. One of the two intermediate image transfer bodies is less deformable than the other intermediate image transfer body in the direction of thickness.

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus includes a first transfer mechanism configured to transfer an image onto a first surface of a recording sheet. The image transfer apparatus also includes a second transfer mechanism configured to transfer an image onto a second surface of the recording sheet, and a controller configured to select one of a first case, in which the first transfer mechanism transfers a first original image onto the first surface of the recording sheet, or a second case, in which the second transfer mechanism transfers the first original image onto the second surface of the recording sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image carrying members, ejection trays, and a sheet transferring mechanism. The first image carrying member carries images in increasing order of corresponding sheet numbers. The second image carrying member carries an image transferred from the first image carrying member. The ejection trays include a first ejection tray, which stacks output sheets in a straight or forward orientation, and a second ejection tray, which stacks output sheets in a reversed orientation. The sheet transferring mechanism transfers a recording sheet to the first and second image carrying members. The first and second image carrying members transfer images onto both first and second surfaces of the recording sheet, at the same time, in response to a selection between the first and second ejection trays in a double-sided recording mode so that the first and second ejection trays stack the recording sheets in increasing order of page numbers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of forming images on both sides of a recording medium of the present invention includes a first image carrier on which a toner image to be formed, and a second image carrier to which the toner image is transferred from the first image carrier. The toner image transferred from the image carrier to the second image carrier is transferred to one side of the recording medium while a toner image is transferred from the first image carrier to the other side of the recording medium. After the toner image has been transferred from the first image carrier to the second image carrier, the running condition of the second image carrier is varied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of forming images on both sides of a recording medium of the present invention includes a first image carrier on which a toner image to be formed, and a second image carrier to which the toner image is transferred from the first image carrier. The toner image transferred from the image carrier to the second image carrier is transferred to one side of the recording medium while a toner image is transferred from the first image carrier to the other side of the recording medium. After the toner image has been transferred from the first image carrier to the second image carrier, the running condition of the second image carrier is varied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image bearing member. A visual image forming device forms the visual images on the at least one image bearing member. A two-side transfer device transfers the visual images on the at least one image bearing member onto both sides of the recording medium held on a recording medium holding member. A fixing device fixes the visual images transferred onto the both sides of the recording medium. A recording medium conveying device including at least one recording medium supporting member supports the recording medium. The recording medium conveying device is positioned between the two-side transfer device and the fixing device, and conveys the recording medium from the two-side transfer device to the fixing device while supporting a non-image portion of the recording medium by the at least one recording medium supporting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first writing control device configured to control a writing of a first latent image, a second writing control device configured to control a writing of a second latent image, and a criterion timing determination device configured to determine a criterion timing for a series of image forming operations based on an image forming instruction and to transmit to the first writing control device one of (i) a signal of the criterion timing, or (ii) a signal of a writing instruction determined based on the criterion timing. The first writing control device is configured to start a writing process of the first latent image based on one of the signal of the criterion timing or the signal of the writing instruction received from the criterion timing determination device, and to transmit a signal of a timing for starting a writing process to the second writing control device.

Abstract: An image forming method of the present invention begins with a first image transfer step for thermally transferring a first toner image from a first image carrier to a second image carrier contacting it. Subsequently, in a second image transfer step, the first toner image carried on the second image carrier and a second toner image newly formed on the first image carrier are thermally transferred to opposite sides of a recording medium substantially at the same time. Higher image transfer temperature is assigned to the second image transfer step than to the first image transfer step. Additionally, the second image carrier has a greater roughness than the first image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming method of the present invention begins with a first image transfer step for thermally transferring a first toner image from a first image carrier to a second image carrier contacting it. Subsequently, in a second image transfer step, the first toner image carried on the second image carrier and a second toner image newly formed on the first image carrier are thermally transferred to opposite sides of a recording medium substantially at the same time. Higher image transfer temperature is assigned to the second image transfer step than to the first image transfer step.

Abstract: An image transferring device of the present invention includes a first and a second intermediate image transfer body whose surfaces endlessly move while forming a nip in contact with ech other. When a sheet nipped by the nip is being conveyed toward a side downstream of the nip in the direction in which the above surfaces move, a first toner image transferred from an image carrier to the second intermediate image transfer body via the first intermediate image transfer body beforehand is transferred to one side of the sheet. At the same time, a second toner image transferred from the image carrier to the first image transfer body beforehand is transferred to the other side of the sheet. One of the two intermediate image transfer bodies is less deformable than the other intermediate image transfer body in the direction of thickness.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a first and a second intermediate image transfer belt contacting each other to form a nip for secondary image transfer. While the nip is heated, a sheet is passed through the nip to thereby transfer toner images respectively formed on the first and second belts to opposite surfaces of the sheet at the same time. The nip is sized such that image transfer and fixation can be effected at temperature higher than the melting point or the softening point of toner by 5° C. to 50° C.

Abstract: A belt member is formed in an annular shape, which enables endless circulation of the belt member, and includes a belt base; a mark that is formed with a light reflective material; and a protection layer that is formed with a translucent material. The protection layer covers the mark, and the mark and the protection layer are arranged on a surface of the belt member on an inner side of the annular shape.