Abstract: A nozzle receiver is to be arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus. The nozzle receiver includes a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted in the image forming apparatus; an opening/closing member to open and to close the nozzle receiving opening; and a supporter to support the opening/closing member. The opening/closing member includes a sealing portion to seal the nozzle insertion opening. The supporter includes an end surface portion perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member. The projection area of the end surface portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than a projection area of the sealing portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member.

Abstract: A nozzle receiver is to be arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus. The nozzle receiver includes a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted in the image forming apparatus; an opening/closing member to open and to close the nozzle receiving opening; and a supporter to support the opening/closing member. The opening/closing member includes a sealing portion to seal the nozzle insertion opening. The supporter includes an end surface portion perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member. The projection area of the end surface portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than a projection area of the sealing portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member.

Abstract: A nozzle receiver is to be arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus. The nozzle receiver includes a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted in the image forming apparatus; an opening/closing member to open and to close the nozzle receiving opening; and a supporter to support the opening/closing member. The opening/closing member includes a sealing portion to seal the nozzle insertion opening. The supporter includes an end surface portion perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member. The projection area of the end surface portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than a projection area of the sealing portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member.

Abstract: A nozzle receiver is to be arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus. The nozzle receiver includes a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted in the image forming apparatus; an opening/closing member to open and to close the nozzle receiving opening; and a supporter to support the opening/closing member. The opening/closing member includes a sealing portion to seal the nozzle insertion opening. The supporter includes an end surface portion perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member. The projection area of the end surface portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than a projection area of the sealing portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a charging device, a latent image forming device, a developing device, a transfer device, a toner amount detector, and a control circuit to execute an imaging condition determination process. The control circuit obtains a linear approximation formula of a developing potential and an amount of toner according to an exposure potential of the patch pattern and a detected amount of toner to calculate a developing gamma and a developing start voltage according to a gradient of the linear approximation formula, determines target charging potential, exposure potential and developing bias according to the developing gamma and the developing start voltage, determines an amount of a background potential to be corrected according to a difference between the developing start voltage and a target developing start voltage obtained according to environmental information, and corrects the target charging potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging bias output device, a developing bias output device, a transfer bias output device, and a controller. The controller controls the transfer bias output device to supply a transfer bias from a time at which a first position of a photosensitive member arrives at a transfer position after the charging bias output device starts supplying a charging bias. An initial value of the transfer bias is controlled to be smaller than a normal set value for a predetermined time period which is a time after the transfer bias starts to be supplied and within a time corresponding to a rise time during which a surface potential of the photosensitive member reaches a predetermined potential after the charging bias starts to be output. The first position of the photosensitive member is a position at which the charging device starts charging the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier to carry a latent image on a surface thereof, a developing device to develop the latent image with toner to form a toner image on the surface of the latent image carrier, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, and a controller. The controller executes an image density adjustment control of adjusting a developing bias to obtain a target image density. The controller further executes a forced toner consumption control of forcibly consuming the toner contained in the developing device by attaching the toner to the latent image carrier to form a toner pattern on the surface of the latent image carrier. The controller executes the forced toner consumption control to forcibly consume a smaller amount of toner in response to a higher developing bias as adjusted by the image density adjustment control.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a conveyance unit to convey a transfer medium, a first image forming unit to form a monochrome image transferred at a first transfer position onto the transfer medium, and a second image forming unit disposed downstream from the first image forming unit in a direction of conveyance of the transfer medium, including an intermediate transfer body to form a multi-colored toner image on the intermediate transfer body. The multi-colored toner image is transferred onto the transfer medium at a second transfer position. The conveyance unit is separated from the intermediate transfer body at the second transfer position in a monochrome mode to form the monochrome image using only the first image forming unit, and contacts the intermediate transfer body at the second transfer position in a full-color mode to form a full-color image using both the first and second image forming units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a charging device, a latent image forming device, a developing device, a transfer device, a toner amount detector, and a control circuit to execute an imaging condition determination process. The control circuit obtains a linear approximation formula of a developing potential and an amount of toner according to an exposure potential of the patch pattern and a detected amount of toner to calculate a developing gamma and a developing start voltage according to a gradient of the linear approximation formula, determines target charging potential, exposure potential and developing bias according to the developing gamma and the developing start voltage, determines an amount of a background potential to be corrected according to a difference between the developing start voltage and a target developing start voltage obtained according to environmental information, and corrects the target charging potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier to carry a latent image on a surface thereof, a developing device to develop the latent image with toner to form a toner image on the surface of the latent image carrier, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, and a controller. The controller executes an image density adjustment control of adjusting a developing bias to obtain a target image density. The controller further executes a forced toner consumption control of forcibly consuming the toner contained in the developing device by attaching the toner to the latent image carrier to form a toner pattern on the surface of the latent image carrier. The controller executes the forced toner consumption control to forcibly consume a smaller amount of toner in response to a higher developing bias as adjusted by the image density adjustment control.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging bias output device, a developing bias output device, a transfer bias output device, and a controller. The controller controls the transfer bias output device to supply a transfer bias from a time at which a first position of a photosensitive member arrives at a transfer position after the charging bias output device starts supplying a charging bias. An initial value of the transfer bias is controlled to be smaller than a normal set value for a predetermined time period (Tc) which is a time after the transfer bias starts to be supplied and within a time corresponding to a rise time (Ta) during which a surface potential of the photosensitive member reaches a predetermined potential after the charging bias starts to be output. The first position of the photosensitive member is a position at which the charging device start charging the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing liquid applicator to apply a fixing liquid to a recording medium, a transfer device to transfer a toner image from a toner image bearing member onto the recording medium to which the fixing liquid is applied while the toner image is in contact with the fixing liquid, and a fixing device to fix the toner image on the recording medium by heating the toner image and the fixing liquid. The fixing liquid comprises a plasticizer having a function to swell and soften a toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing liquid applicator to apply a fixing liquid to a recording medium before a toner image is transferred on the recording medium, a transfer device to transfer a toner image from a toner image bearing member onto the recording medium applied with the fixing liquid, and a fixing device to fix the toner image on the recording medium by heating. The fixing liquid applicator includes an application member disposed opposing a face of the recording medium on which the toner image is transferred to apply to the recording medium the fixing liquid borne on a surface of the application member, a supply unit to supply the fixing liquid to the application member, and a sealing device to form along with the application member a sealed space in which the supply unit and the fixing liquid to be supplied to the application member are sealed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a fixing liquid applicator applying a fixing liquid including a plasticizer swelling and softening a toner forming a toner image to fix on a recording medium thereto before bearing the toner image; a transferer transferring the toner image on a toner image bearer onto the recording medium while contacting the toner image to the fixing liquid thereon; and a fixing device heating the toner image and the fixing liquid to fix the toner image thereon, wherein the fixing liquid applicator comprises an application member bearing the fixing liquid on its surface and apply the liquid on a surface of the recording medium the toner image is transferred onto; a feeder feeding the fixing liquid to the application member; and an inducement mechanism inducing the fixing liquid pooling at a delivery point where the feeder feeds the fixing liquid to the application member out of the point.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a fixing liquid applicator applying a fixing liquid including a plasticizer swelling and softening a toner forming a toner image to fix on a recording medium thereto before bearing the toner image; a transferer transferring the toner image on a toner image bearer onto the recording medium while contacting the toner image to the fixing liquid thereon; and a fixing device heating the toner image and the fixing liquid to fix the toner image thereon, wherein the fixing liquid applicator comprises an application member bearing the fixing liquid on its surface and apply the liquid on a surface of the recording medium the toner image is transferred onto; a feeder feeding the fixing liquid to the application member; and an inducement mechanism inducing the fixing liquid pooling at a delivery point where the feeder feeds the fixing liquid to the application member out of the point.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing liquid applicator to apply a fixing liquid to a recording medium before a toner image is transferred on the recording medium, a transfer device to transfer a toner image from a toner image bearing member onto the recording medium applied with the fixing liquid, and a fixing device to fixe the toner image on the recording medium by heating. The fixing liquid applicator includes an application member disposed opposing a face of the recording medium on which the toner image is transferred to apply to the recording medium the fixing liquid borne on a surface of the application member, a supply unit to supply the fixing liquid to the application member, and a sealing device to form along with the application member a sealed space in which the supply unit and the fixing liquid to be supplied to the application member are sealed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing liquid applicator to apply a fixing liquid to a recording medium, a transfer device to transfer a toner image from a toner image bearing member onto the recording medium to which the fixing liquid is applied while the toner image is in contact with the fixing liquid, and a fixing device to fix the toner image on the recording medium by heating the toner image and the fixing liquid. The fixing liquid comprises a plasticizer having a function to swell and soften a toner.

Abstract: A novel development device includes a developer roller, a developer reservoir, a rotatable conveyor, and a replenisher unit. The developer roller is configured to supply toner particles to the electrostatic latent image. The developer reservoir is configured to hold the developer therewithin for application to the developer roller. The rotatable conveyor is configured to rotate within the developer reservoir to convey the developer toward the developer roller. The replenisher unit has a tubular member terminating at a port opening in the developer reservoir. The replenisher unit is configured to direct a particulate material through the tubular member into the developer reservoir via the port. The particulate material is toner particles, carrier particles, or a mixture of toner particles and a given amount of carrier particles. The port is submerged in the developer within the developer reservoir as the rotatable conveyor rotates.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a conveyance unit to convey a transfer medium, a first image forming unit to form a monochrome image transferred at a first transfer position onto the transfer medium, and a second image forming unit disposed downstream from the first image forming unit in a direction of conveyance of the transfer medium, including an intermediate transfer body to form a multi-colored toner image on the intermediate transfer body. The multi-colored toner image is transferred onto the transfer medium at a second transfer position. The conveyance unit is separated from the intermediate transfer body at the second transfer position in a monochrome mode to form the monochrome image using only the first image forming unit, and contacts the intermediate transfer body at the second transfer position in a full-color mode to form a full-color image using both the first and second image forming units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a plate. The image forming unit is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus. The image forming unit includes a convex portion. The plate includes a hole configured to receive the convex portion. The image forming unit further includes a lever which is provided at a front side of a unit case of the image forming unit and is configured to move between a working position and a storing position. When the lever is moved from the storing position to the working position, the convex portion is removed from the hole.