Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can control to turn on/off a light emitting element depending on a sheet state on a manual sheet tray is provided. The image forming apparatus includes the manual feed tray on which the sheet is placed. The image forming apparatus is configured to be switchable between normal power mode and power saving mode. In the normal power mode, normal power is supplied. In the power saving mode, less power is consumed as compared to the power consumed in the normal power mode. The image forming apparatus includes a manual sheet feeding sensor which detects presence/absence of the sheet on the manual feed tray. The image forming apparatus includes a sheet length sensor S and a sheet length sensor L which include the light emitting element and a light receiving element to detect approximate sheet length of sheet placed on the manual feed tray in a conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a reading device; an operating portion; a light source; a rotary polygon mirror; a motor configured to rotate the rotary polygon mirror; and a motor control portion configured to start the motor to control the motor at a first rotation speed in response to a fact that a predetermined action is performed on one of the operating portion and the reading device in a stopped state of the rotary polygon mirror, and then to control the motor at a second rotation speed higher than the first rotation speed in response to an instruction to start image formation from the operating portion, the motor control portion being configured to control the motor at the second rotation speed, without controlling the motor at the first rotation speed, in response to a fact that the receiving portion receives image data before the motor reaches the first rotation speed.

Abstract: An image forming unit forms a toner image on an image carrier, and transfers the toner image to a recording medium. A voltage generation circuit generates a high voltage used for the image forming unit. A control circuit is connected to the voltage generation circuit via a cable, and controls the high voltage generated by the voltage generation circuit. A detection unit detects a current flowing in a load of the image forming unit to which the high voltage generated by the voltage generation circuit is applied. A determination unit determines an error in accordance with a current range in which the current detected by the detection unit falls. The current range is included among a plurality of current ranges that are in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of errors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium, including: a process unit, which a high voltage is applied to, configured to perform an image forming process; a circuit board configured to generate the high voltage; a holding claw configured to hold the circuit board; a power feed member configured to apply the high voltage to the process unit, the power feed member having an elastic member electrically connected to an output portion of the circuit board from which the high voltage is output in a state in which the circuit board is held by the holding claw; and a silk-printed mark put on the circuit board, the silk-printed mark indicating a portion of the circuit board to be pressed by an operator in order to cause the circuit board to be held by the holding claw.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can control to turn on/off a light emitting element depending on a sheet state on a manual sheet tray is provided. The image forming apparatus includes the manual feed tray on which the sheet is placed. The image forming apparatus is configured to be switchable between normal power mode and power saving mode. In the normal power mode, normal power is supplied. In the power saving mode, less power is consumed as compared to the power consumed in the normal power mode. The image forming apparatus includes a manual sheet feeding sensor which detects presence/absence of the sheet on the manual feed tray. The image forming apparatus includes a sheet length sensor S and a sheet length sensor L which include the light emitting element and a light receiving element to detect approximate sheet length of sheet placed on the manual feed tray in a conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a waste toner container for containing toner recovered from a photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt. The waste toner container has a stirring screw for conveying the waste toner in the waste toner container. The stirring screw is driven by the waste toner motor. A CPU determines whether the waste toner container is in time of replacement depending on the rotation speed or driving current of a waste toner motor. If the waste toner container is in time of replacement the CPU displays that on a display unit to provide the notification to the user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium, including: a process unit, which a high voltage is applied to, configured to perform an image forming process; a circuit board configured to generate the high voltage; a holding claw configured to hold the circuit board; a power feed member configured to apply the high voltage to the process unit, the power feed member having an elastic member electrically connected to an output portion of the circuit board from which the high voltage is output in a state in which the circuit board is held by the holding claw; and a silk-printed mark put on the circuit board, the silk-printed mark indicating a portion of the circuit board to be pressed by an operator in order to cause the circuit board to be held by the holding claw.

Abstract: An image forming unit forms a toner image on an image carrier, and transfers the toner image to a recording medium. A voltage generation circuit generates a high voltage used for the image forming unit. A control circuit is connected to the voltage generation circuit via a cable, and controls the high voltage generated by the voltage generation circuit. A detection unit detects a current flowing in a load of the image forming unit to which the high voltage generated by the voltage generation circuit is applied. A determination unit determines an error in accordance with a current range in which the current detected by the detection unit falls. The current range is included among a plurality of current ranges that are in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of errors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can control to turn on/off the light emitting element depending on a sheet state on a manual sheet tray is provided. The image forming apparatus includes the manual feed tray on which sheet is placed. The image forming apparatus is configured to be switchable between normal power mode and power saving mode. In the normal power mode, normal power is supplied. In the power saving mode, less power is consumed as compared to the power consumed in the normal power mode. The image forming apparatus includes a manual sheet feeding sensor which detects presence/absence of the sheet on the manual feed tray. The image forming apparatus includes a sheet length sensor S and a sheet length sensor L which include light emitting element and light receiving element to detect approximate sheet length of sheet placed on the manual feed tray in a conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a reading device; an operating portion; a light source; a rotary polygon mirror; a motor configured to rotate the rotary polygon mirror; and a motor control portion configured to start the motor to control the motor at a first rotation speed in response to a fact that a predetermined action is performed on one of the operating portion and the reading device in a stopped state of the rotary polygon mirror, and then to control the motor at a second rotation speed higher than the first rotation speed in response to an instruction to start image formation from the operating portion, the motor control portion being configured to control the motor at the second rotation speed, without controlling the motor at the first rotation speed, in response to a fact that the receiving portion receives image data before the motor reaches the first rotation speed.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking member, an optical sensor, a detected member, and a control unit. As an amount of sheets stacked on the stacking member decreases, the detected member moves from a first position in which optical sensor light is not interrupted, then once interrupts the light, and then moves to a second position in which the light is not interrupted. Information regarding an amount of sheets transmitted by the control unit, when stored information is about the detected member in the second position, is information notifying that an amount of sheets stacked on the stacking member is less than that of information regarding an amount of sheets stacked on the stacking member transmitted by the control unit when stored information is about the detected member is in the first position.

Abstract: A filler sand for a ladle tap hole valve contains 45 to 55 mass % of zircon sand, 30 to 40 mass % of chromite sand and 10 to 20 mass % of silica sand and is blended externally with 0.05 to 5 mass % of carbon black calculated based on the total amount of the sands; or contains 30 to 90 mass % of chromite sand and 10 to 70 mass % of silica sand and is optionally blended externally with 0.05 to 5 mass % of carbon black, wherein 95 mass % or more of the chromite sand consists of particles having diameters falling within a range of 150 to 850 &mgr;m, 60 mass % or more of the chromite sand consists of particles having diameters falling within a range of 212 to 600 &mgr;m, 95 mass % or more of the silica sand consists of particles having diameters falling within a range of 300 to 1180 &mgr;m, and 90 mass % or more of the silica sand consists of particles having diameters falling within a range of 600 to 1180 &mgr;m.