Abstract: In a vehicle drive device, a first drive device configured to drive a first engagement device configured to connect or disconnect power transmission between an input member and a first rotor includes a first shift drum and a first cam mechanism. A second drive device configured to drive a second engagement device configured to connect or disconnect power transmission between the first rotor and an output member includes a second shift drum and a second cam mechanism. The first shift drum and the second shift drum are coaxially disposed and connected via a drum drive shaft so as to rotate integrally. The vehicle drive device includes a drum drive source configured to drive the drum drive shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer belt, a power supply, a transfer member to transfer toner image on the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium, and a sensor to detect, as density information, a density of the recording medium toner image. In an adjustment mode, (i) a test recording medium is output as a test chart by applying multiple levels of test voltages to the transfer member to transfer test toner images to the test recording medium, (ii) the transferred test toner images are detected via the sensor, and (iii) a transfer voltage is adjusted based on the sensor detection. In the adjustment mode, test toner image groups are set, one test toner image group is extracted based on an index value, and the transfer voltage is adjusted based on the density information of the extracted test toner image group.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an image forming unit, an intermediate transfer belt, a power supply, a transfer member to transfer toner image on the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium, and a sensor to detect, as density information, a density of the recording medium toner image. In an adjustment mode, (i) a test recording medium is output as a test chart by applying multiple levels of test voltages to the transfer member to transfer test toner images to the test recording medium, (ii) the transferred test toner images are detected via the sensor, and (iii) a transfer voltage is adjusted based on the sensor detection. In the adjustment mode, test toner image groups are set, one test toner image group is extracted based on an index value, and the transfer voltage is adjusted based on the density information of the extracted test toner image group.

Abstract: A damper device of the present disclosure includes an input element to which torque from an engine is transmitted, an output element, and an elastic body that transmits torque between the input element and the output element. The input element is formed to enclose the elastic body. The output element includes a clearance portion that allows passage of a tool for attaching and detaching the engine and the input element. A sealing member is disposed between the input element and another member other than components of the damper device so as to restrict an entry of foreign substances into the input element on the outside the clearance portion in a radial direction. As a result, assemblability and maintenability of the damper device can be further improved while restricting the entry of foreign substances into the input element formed to enclose an elastic body.

Abstract: A damper device includes a plurality of rotational elements including an input element and an output element; an elastic body that transmits a torque between the input and the output elements; and a rotary inertia mass damper with a mass body rotating in accordance with a relative rotation between a first rotational element which is one of the rotational elements and a second rotational element different from the first rotational element. The rotary inertia mass damper includes a sun gear that rotates integrally with the first rotational element, pinion gears rotatably supported by the second rotational element, and a ring gear that meshes with the pinion gears and works as the mass body. The second rotational element includes a plurality of ring gear supporting portions arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction so as to restrict a movement of the ring gear in an axial direction of the damper device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provides a configuration capable of suppressing an increase in the resistance of an intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus includes an electrification unit for electrifying an intermediate transfer belt to suppress an increase in resistance of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of stabilizing a feeding behavior of a transfer material while suppressing disturbance of a toner image due to electric discharge is provided. An image forming apparatus 100 has a constitution in which in a period from after a leading end of a transfer material P with respect to a feeding direction moves in a predetermined distance from a transfer portion N2 toward a fixing portion until a trailing end of the transfer material P with respect to the feeding direction passes through the transfer portion N2, a controller 50 causes a voltage source E3 to apply, to a discharging member 5, a voltage which his larger on an identical polarity side to a charge polarity of toner on an image bearing member 1 than a potential of the discharging member 5 in a period from after the leading end of the transfer material P with respect to the feeding direction passes through the transfer portion N2 until the leading end of the transfer material P moves in the predetermined distance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provides a configuration capable of suppressing an increase in the resistance of an intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus includes an electrification unit for electrifying an intermediate transfer belt to suppress an increase in resistance of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detecting portion to detect a test toner image formed on an image bearing member, and a shielding member is provided between the detecting portion and the image bearing member and reciprocates between first and second positions. A first opposing portion includes a first member opposed to the image bearing member and provided at a position opposing the image bearing member through an opening in a process of movement of the shielding member, an electrically grounded electroconductive member is disposed in a side opposite a side of the first member opposed to the image bearing member; and a second opposing portion is disposed opposed to the image bearing member and provided at position opposing the image bearing member through the opening in the process of movement of the shielding member from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing drum; an image forming unit for forming a test toner image on drum; a sensor opposed to the drum and including a detecting portion; a shield having an opening and provided between the detecting portion and the drum, the shield being reciprocable between first and second positions. When the shield is in the first position, the detecting portion is exposed to the drum at a position opposed to the detecting portion. When the shield is in the second position, the shield shields the detecting portion from the drum; and an opposing portion of porous resin material or rubber provided at a position opposing the drum through the opening when the shield is in an upstream position with respect to a moving direction of the shield from the second position toward the first position.

Abstract: When density of a first patch does not fall within a target density, a control portion forms a first patch again by increasing a development contrast and a second patch without changing a development contrast. If the first patch formed again does not fall within the target density, densities of the second patches formed without changing the development contrast are compared. The density of the first patch formed again does not fall within the target density because a non-electrostatic adhesion has been generated in toner or a toner charge amount has increased. Then, it is determined whether or not the non-electrostatic adhesion has been generated based on the comparison of the densities of the second patches formed without changing the development contrast. If a difference of the densities of the second patches is small, a primary transfer current is increased by assuming that the non-electrostatic adhesion has been generated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a drum for carrying a toner image; a transfer member for contacting the drum to form a transfer nip, the transfer member being capable of electrostatically transferring the toner image from the drum onto a sheet; a fixing unit provided, downstream of the transfer member with respect to a sheet feeding direction, for fixing the toner image on the sheet by a fixing nip; a first current path provided between the fixing nip and a ground potential; a feeding unit, provided downstream of the fixing unit, for feeding the sheet while nipping by a feeding nip; a guiding member, disposed downstream of the feeding unit, for feeding the sheet passing through the transfer nip; and a second current path provided between the feeding nip and the ground potential, the second path having an electric resistance which is lower than that of the first path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming device for forming a toner image on the image bearing member, a recording material, a transfer device for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member to the recording material, a transfer belt for carrying the recording material, a first cleaning member, a second cleaning member, and a voltage control device. When continuously forming toner images on sheets of the recording material, a detection toner image is formed on the image bearing member between images to be formed on sheets of the recording material. The first cleaning member cleans the image bearing member. The second cleaning member cleans the transfer belt. The voltage control device controls the voltage applied to the transfer device so that the number of operations to clean the detection toner image is higher for the second cleaning member than the first cleaning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a drum for carrying a toner image; a transfer member for contacting the drum to form a transfer nip, the transfer member being capable of electrostatically transferring the toner image from the drum onto a sheet; a fixing unit provided, downstream of the transfer member with respect to a sheet feeding direction, for fixing the toner image on the sheet by a fixing nip; a first current path provided between the fixing nip and a ground potential; a feeding unit, provided downstream of the fixing unit, for feeding the sheet while nipping by a feeding nip; a guiding member, disposed downstream of the feeding unit, for feeding the sheet passing through the transfer nip; and a second current path provided between the feeding nip and the ground potential, the second path having an electric resistance which is lower than that of the first path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner image forming unit; an intermediary transfer belt; a transfer roller; a fixing device including a first belt stretched by a first roller and a first stretching roller and a second belt stretched by a second roller and a second stretching roller spaced from the first stretching roller; and a guiding member. The guiding member is provided downstream of a transfer portion and upstream of the fixing device with respect to a recording material feeding direction. The guiding member is disposed, at a downstream end thereof, in a nip side relative to an upstream common tangential line of the first and second stretching rollers with respect to the feeding direction and is disposed at a position closer to the second stretching roller than to the first stretching roller on the upstream common tangential line. The guiding member includes a flat plate-like electrode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; an intermediary transfer belt for carrying the toner image transferred from the image bearing member; a transfer belt for carrying and conveying a recording material; an attraction portion for electrostatically attracting the recording material to the transfer belt; a transfer portion for transferring the toner image from the intermediary transfer belt onto the recording material attracted to the transfer belt; and an electrode member, disposed downstream of the attraction portion and upstream of the transfer portion with respect to a movement direction of the transfer belt, being contacted to an inner surface of the transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that is rotatable, a toner image forming portion that is able to form a toner image to be transferred to a transfer material and a control toner image not to be transferred to a transfer material on the image bearing member, a transfer member that transfers the toner image formed on the image bearing member to the transfer material, a detecting portion that detects a density of the control toner image, an adjustment portion that adjusts a toner image formation condition of the toner image forming portion based on an output of the detecting portion, a cleaning member that electrostatically cleans the transfer member, and a controller which changes a voltage or a current to be applied between the transfer member and the cleaning member based on the density of the control toner image.

Abstract: An elastic layer and a top layer of an intermediate transfer belt are configured such that an elastic modulus in a sub-scanning direction is larger than an elastic modulus in a main-scanning direction. Accordingly, when a toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt, a pressure applied to and affect on a toner is reduced as well as deformation at a sliding-contact portion between the intermediate transfer belt and a cleaning blade can be suppressed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a rotatable transfer roller; a contact separation unit; a driving force transmission portion; a cleaning member; and a control portion. The cleaning member is for removing toner adhering to the transfer roller by contacting with the transfer roller when the transfer roller is in contact with and separated from the image bearing member. The cleaning member cleans the transfer roller in: (i) a first mode in which the cleaning member cleans the transfer roller while the transfer roller in contact with the image bearing member rotates at a first peripheral velocity, and (ii) a second mode in which the cleaning member cleans the transfer roller while the transfer roller separated from the image bearing member rotates at a second peripheral velocity. The control portion controls a voltage applied to the cleaning member according to the peripheral velocity of the transfer roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a pair of regulating members, for regulating movement of a recording material conveyed from a secondary transfer portion toward an intermediary transfer belt side, configured to be contactable to the recording material at both end portions with respect to a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording material; a moving mechanism capable of moving a position of the pair of regulating members with respect to the width direction; a recording material size detecting portion for obtaining width information of the recording material with respect to the width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction; and a width control portion for controlling the moving mechanism so that the pair of regulating members to a position correspondingly to the width information obtained by the recording material size detecting portion.