Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; a development device that includes a toner carrier which is disposed opposite to the image carrier, carries and supplies toner to the image carrier, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the image carrier; and a control means that performs a refresh process in which toner is ejected from the toner carrier to the image carrier in a time an image is not formed, and a toner ejection pattern which is formed by ejecting a line image a plurality of times that has an acute angle to a main scan direction at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the image carrier over a total width of a development region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image bearing member, a line test image forming section for forming a line test image made up of a plurality of line images arranged side by side on the image bearing member, an image density detecting section for detecting the density of the line test image formed on the image bearing member or the line test image transferred from the image bearing member to a transfer member, and a setting section for setting an image forming condition based on the density of the line test image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; a development device that includes a toner carrier which is disposed opposite to the image carrier, carries and supplies toner to the image carrier, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the image carrier; and a control means that performs a refresh process in which toner is ejected from the toner carrier to the image carrier in a time an image is not formed, and a toner ejection pattern which is formed by ejecting a line image a plurality of times that has an acute angle to a main scan direction at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the image carrier over a total width of a development region.

Abstract: A grid wire cleaning mechanism is provided to prevent a reduction in image quality due to the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier not being uniformly charged as a result of corona products adhering unevenly to the surface of the grid wires to extend the life of the grid wires and grid wire contact member. A first abrading member 71 abrades grid wires 224. A movement device 73 moves the first abrading member 71 in the same direction as the direction of extension of the grid wires 224. A humidity measurement unit 741 measures the humidity near the grid wires 224. The operation control unit 743 operates the movement device 73 when cleaning the grid wires 224, but does not operate the movement device 73 when the humidity measured by the humidity measurement unit 741 exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has an image carrier, an exposure unit to irradiate the image carrier; a developing part; a rotator on which a plurality of such developing parts is provided; a color toner replenishing part which moves from a retracted position where light emitted from the exposure unit is not obstructed, to a replenishing position where light emitted from the exposure unit is obstructed, and with which the color toner of the color developing part in the replenishing position is replenished; and a black toner replenishing part which is disposed in a position where light emitted from the exposure unit is not obstructed and with which the black toner is replenished to the black developing part in the replenishing position.

Abstract: To provide an image forming device that is capable of preventing deterioration of the image quality through preventing deterioration of the toner even if frequency of making a copy is low. The image forming device includes: a developing part having a developing roller for achieving development by electrostatically attaching a toner onto an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor; a transferring part for transferring a developed toner image to a paper; and a cleaner part for removing and collecting the toner remained on the photoreceptor after transferring, wherein the developing roller is rotary-driven at a lower speed than a speed of development under a standby state. The image forming device includes a standby-state refresh control part for forcibly consuming an amount of the toner that is calculated based on accumulated time of the low-speed rotary drive.

Abstract: A housing of a developing device has a circulating conveyance passage with a front conveyance passage along a developing roller and a rear conveyance passage parallel to the front conveyance passage. Front and rear spiral feeders are provided in the front and rear conveyance passages for conveying developer particles. The housing has a first developer inlet opening for receiving developer particles from a developer supplier and a second developer inlet opening for receiving recycled developer particles. The rear spiral feeder includes a conveyance power reduction portion at a position downstream from the first and second developer inlet openings and locally reduces conveyance power. The first and second developer inlet openings upstream of the conveyance power reduction portion and are where developer particles are likely to be upwardly surged due to the rotation of the rear conveyer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image bearing member, a line test image forming section for forming a line test image made up of a plurality of line images arranged side by side on the image bearing member, an image density detecting section for detecting the density of the line test image formed on the image bearing member or the line test image transferred from the image bearing member to a transfer member, and a setting section for setting an image forming condition based on the density of the line test image.

Abstract: A control part 33 rotates a developer roller 21a at a second rotation speed, which is slower than a normal rotation speed during an image formation period (first rotation speed), during a non-image formation period while a heater 14 is in use. This prevents deformation of the developer roller 21a caused by radiant heat from a photoconductive drum 41, effectively prevents the appearance of image fogging, concentration unevenness, and the like, and also suppresses toner deterioration in a development unit 21.

Abstract: A developing device includes a casing, a first mixing conveying screw, and a developer removing unit. The casing is able to store toner. The first mixing conveying screw has a shaft arranged to be able to rotate freely in the interior of the casing, and a spiral in a spiral shape formed on the outer circumference portion of the shaft. The developer removing unit has a plurality of spring members arranged to be lined up in the axial direction corresponding to the spiral pitch of the spiral and are able to contact the spiral, and a retaining member that is retained in the casing and retains the plurality of the spring members.

Abstract: A developing device (50) includes a developing sleeve (53) for supplying toner particles (T) to a latent image area (22) on a peripheral surface of a photoconductive drum (20) while rotating about a central shaft (534). The developing sleeve (53) has an immovable sleeve magnet (533) therein. Two magnetic members (82) are disposed in opposite end portions of the developing sleeve (53) and are spaced a predetermined distance from the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve. Each magnet member (82) has an arc shape. A magnetic member magnet (83) is mounted in the magnet member (82) and faces a sleeve magnet (533) so that opposite facing portions of the magnetic member magnet (83) and the sleeve magnet (533) have the same polarity. With this construction, toner particles are prevented from leaking from the end portions of the developing sleeve (53).

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing sleeve for supplying toner particles to a latent image area on a peripheral surface of a photoconductive drum while rotating about an axis. The developing sleeve has a permanent magnet therein. Two magnetic members are provided in the developing device and face opposite ends of a peripheral surface of the developing sleeve at a predetermined distance from the developing sleeve. The magnetic members have arc-shaped inner surfaces. A blade is spaced a predetermined distance from a central portion of the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve. The blade adjusts the amount of toner particles supplied to the photoconductive drum. The gap between the arc-shaped inner surface of the magnetic member and the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve gradually increases from upstream to downstream in a rotational direction of the developing sleeve.

Abstract: To provide an image forming device that is capable of preventing deterioration of the image quality through preventing deterioration of the toner even if frequency of making a copy is low. The image forming device includes: a developing part 44 having a developing roller 443 for achieving development by electrostatically attaching a toner onto an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor 41; a transferring part 46 for transferring a developed toner image to a paper; and a cleaner part 47 for removing and collecting the toner remained on the photoreceptor 41 after transferring, wherein the developing roller 443 is rotary-driven at a lower speed than a speed of development under a standby state. The image forming device includes a standby-state refresh control part 240 for forcibly consuming an amount of the toner that is calculated based on accumulated time of the low-speed rotary drive.

Abstract: A grid wire cleaning mechanism is provided to prevent a reduction in image quality due to the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier not being uniformly charged as a result of corona products adhering unevenly to the surface of the grid wires to extend the life of the grid wires and grid wire contact member. A first abrading member 71 abrades grid wires 224. A movement device 73 moves the first abrading member 71 in the same direction as the direction of extension of the grid wires 224. A humidity measurement unit 741 measures the humidity near the grid wires 224. The operation control unit 743 operates the movement device 73 when cleaning the grid wires 224, but does not operate the movement device 73 when the humidity measured by the humidity measurement unit 741 exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A developing device includes a casing, a first mixing conveying screw, and a developer removing unit. The casing is able to store toner. The first mixing conveying screw has a shaft arranged to be able to rotate freely in the interior of the casing, and a spiral in a spiral shape formed on the outer circumference portion of the shaft. The developer removing unit has a plurality of spring members arranged to be lined up in the axial direction corresponding to the spiral pitch of the spiral and are able to contact the spiral, and a retaining member that is retained in the casing and retains the plurality of the spring members.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has an image carrier, an exposure unit to irradiate the image carrier; a developing part; a rotator on which a plurality of such developing parts is provided; a color toner replenishing part which moves from a retracted position where light emitted from the exposure unit is not obstructed, to a replenishing position where light emitted from the exposure unit is obstructed, and with which the color toner of the color developing part in the replenishing position is replenished; and a black toner replenishing part which is disposed in a position where light emitted from the exposure unit is not obstructed and with which the black toner is replenished to the black developing part in the replenishing position.

Abstract: A housing of a developing device has a circulating conveyance passage with a front conveyance passage along a developing roller and a rear conveyance passage parallel to the front conveyance passage. Front and rear spiral feeders are provided in the front and rear conveyance passages for conveying developer particles. The housing has a first developer inlet opening for receiving developer particles from a developer supplier and a second developer inlet opening for receiving recycled developer particles. The rear spiral feeder includes a conveyance power reduction portion at a position downstream from the first and second developer inlet openings and locally reduces conveyance power. The first and second developer inlet openings upstream of the conveyance power reduction portion and are where developer particles are likely to be upwardly surged due to the rotation of the rear conveyer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing sleeve for supplying toner particles to a latent image area on a peripheral surface of a photoconductive drum while rotating about an axis. The developing sleeve has a permanent magnet therein. Two magnetic members are provided in the developing device and face opposite ends of a peripheral surface of the developing sleeve at a predetermined distance from the developing sleeve. The magnetic members have arc-shaped inner surfaces. A blade is spaced a predetermined distance from a central portion of the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve. The blade adjusts the amount of toner particles supplied to the photoconductive drum. The gap between the arc-shaped inner surface of the magnetic member and the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve gradually increases from upstream to downstream in a rotational direction of the developing sleeve.

Abstract: A developing device (50) includes a developing sleeve (53) for supplying toner particles (T) to a latent image area (22) on a peripheral surface of a photoconductive drum (20) while rotating about a central shaft (534). The developing sleeve (53) has an immovable sleeve magnet (533) therein. Two magnetic members (82) are disposed in opposite end portions of the developing sleeve (53) and are spaced a predetermined distance from the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve. Each magnet member (82) has an arc shape. A magnetic member magnet (83) is mounted in the magnet member (82) and faces a sleeve magnet (533) so that opposite facing portions of the magnetic member magnet (83) and the sleeve magnet (533) have the same polarity. With this construction, toner particles are prevented from leaking from the end portions of the developing sleeve (53).

Abstract: A control part 33 rotates a developer roller 21a at a second rotation speed, which is slower than a normal rotation speed during an image formation period (first rotation speed), during a non-image formation period while a heater 14 is in use. This prevents deformation of the developer roller 21a caused by radiant heat from a photoconductive drum 41, effectively prevents the appearance of image fogging, concentration unevenness, and the like, and also suppresses toner deterioration in a development unit 21.