Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor unit that supports a photoconductor drum, a transfer roller brought into pressure contact with the photoconductor drum, a transfer unit that supports the transfer roller, a sheet guide provided between the photoconductor unit and the fixing unit, and a support holder that supports the transfer unit and the sheet guide. The support holder moves to bring the transfer unit and the sheet guide into and out of contact with the photoconductor unit and the fixing unit. The transfer unit is provided with a transfer positioning section that positions the transfer unit by coming into abutment therewith. The sheet guide is provided with a guide positioning section that positions the sheet guide by coming into abutment therewith. The transfer unit and the sheet guide are joined to each other by an engagement unit that engages the two with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor unit that supports a photoconductor drum, a transfer roller brought into pressure contact with the photoconductor drum, a transfer unit that supports the transfer roller, a sheet guide provided between the photoconductor unit and the fixing unit, and a support holder that supports the transfer unit and the sheet guide. The support holder moves to bring the transfer unit and the sheet guide into and out of contact with the photoconductor unit and the fixing unit. The transfer unit is provided with a transfer positioning section that positions the transfer unit by coming into abutment therewith. The sheet guide is provided with a guide positioning section that positions the sheet guide by coming into abutment therewith. The transfer unit and the sheet guide are joined to each other by an engagement unit that engages the two with each other.

Abstract: A displacement mechanism for a secondary transfer unit (40) includes a first eccentric cam (71), a second eccentric cam (72) and a shaft member (73). The first eccentric cam (71) and the second eccentric cam (72) are in contact with either edge portion of the secondary transfer unit (40) in width direction of a primary transfer belt (31), and rotate in phase with each other. The shaft member (73) supports the first eccentric cam (71) and the second eccentric cam (72). The first eccentric cam (71) is configured in such a manner that any radius in a peripheral portion (711) is of magnitude not less than a radius at a segment of the second eccentric cam (72) that is in phase with a segment of the peripheral portion (711).

Abstract: A secondary transfer unit stretches a transfer belt in an endless form over a driving roller, a driven roller, a transfer roller, an auxiliary roller, and a support roller therebetween. The transfer belt moves, by rotation of the driving roller, along a circulation path which passes through a transfer position. The transfer roller and the auxiliary roller press the transfer belt from the inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt toward an intermediate transfer belt in the transfer position. The transfer belt has an outer peripheral surface thereof which is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt and is roughened so that the surface roughness of the outer peripheral surface becomes 6 ?m to 10 ?m.

Abstract: A displacement mechanism for a secondary transfer unit (40) includes a first eccentric cam (71), a second eccentric cam (72) and a shaft member (73). The first eccentric cam (71) and the second eccentric cam (72) are in contact with either edge portion of the secondary transfer unit (40) in width direction of a primary transfer belt (31), and rotate in phase with each other. The shaft member (73) supports the first eccentric cam (71) and the second eccentric cam (72). The first eccentric cam (71) is configured in such a manner that any radius in a peripheral portion (711) is of magnitude not less than a radius at a segment of the second eccentric cam (72) that is in phase with a segment of the peripheral portion (711).

Abstract: An intermediate transfer unit includes a shaft, a joint member, an apparatus frame and a supporting member. The joint member includes a first concave portion in which a first end portion in a longitudinal direction of the shaft is fittable at a plurality of angles around a first axis of the shaft, and a first peripheral portion having a second axis that is parallel to but does not share the same straight line with the first axis. The apparatus frame has a through hole. The supporting member has a second concave portion which the first peripheral portion is attachable to and removable from at a plurality of angles around the second axis, and is insertable into and removable from the through hole in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to this invention includes a first movement mechanism, a preliminary charger, and a second movement mechanism. The first movement mechanism moves a primary transfer section between a first position at which an intermediate transfer member is brought into pressure contact with a photoreceptor and a second position at which the intermediate transfer member is spaced apart from the photoreceptor. The preliminary charger is disposed in the motion direction of the intermediate transfer member between the primary transfer section and a secondary transfer section, and disposed at a predetermined position relative to the intermediate transfer member. The preliminary charger applies a charge to a toner image on the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A secondary transfer unit stretches a transfer belt in an endless form over a driving roller, a driven roller, a transfer roller, an auxiliary roller, and a support roller therebetween. The transfer belt moves, by rotation of the driving roller, along a circulation path which passes through a transfer position. The transfer roller and the auxiliary roller press the transfer belt from the inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt toward an intermediate transfer belt in the transfer position. The transfer belt has an outer peripheral surface thereof which is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt and is roughened so that the surface roughness of the outer peripheral surface becomes 6 ?m to 10 ?m.

Abstract: A mounting portion is configured to mount thereon a first coupler provided with a pair of engagement arms having an elastic force in a width increasing direction. The mounting portion includes a pair of support members. The pair of support members each have a support portion, an inclined portion, a first engagement portion, and a second engagement portion. A spacing between the second engagement portions is larger than a widthwise dimension of the first coupler which is taken on when the engagement arms are displaced into a position at which the widthwise dimension of the first coupler is minimized. A space allowing the first and second couplers in a state of being coupled to each other to be placed therein is provided on a downstream side of the mounting portion in a removing direction.

Abstract: A mounting portion is configured to mount thereon a first coupler provided with a pair of engagement arms having an elastic force in a width increasing direction. The mounting portion includes a pair of support members. The pair of support members each have a support portion, an inclined portion, a first engagement portion, and a second engagement portion. A spacing between the second engagement portions is larger than a widthwise dimension of the first coupler which is taken on when the engagement arms are displaced into a position at which the widthwise dimension of the first coupler is minimized. A space allowing the first and second couplers in a state of being coupled to each other to be placed therein is provided on a downstream side of the mounting portion in a removing direction.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt that primarily transfers a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum; a secondary transfer unit including a transfer mechanism portion that secondarily transfers the primarily transferred toner image to a paper; an optical sensor that detects a reference toner image on the transfer belt; and a shutter that protects a detection face of the optical sensor, wherein a separation/contact mechanism portion disposed so as to be brought into contact with both of the shutter and the secondary transfer unit is provided, and the separation/contact mechanism portion allows the shutter to move so as to open and allows the secondary transfer unit to move so as to separate from the transfer belt when the reference toner image is detected by the optical sensor, and allows the shutter to move so as to separate from the transfer belt when the secondary transfer unit is drawn out from an apparatus main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to this invention includes a first movement mechanism, a preliminary charger, and a second movement mechanism. The first movement mechanism moves a primary transfer section between a first position at which an intermediate transfer member is brought into pressure contact with a photoreceptor and a second position at which the intermediate transfer member is spaced apart from the photoreceptor. The preliminary charger is disposed in the motion direction of the intermediate transfer member between the primary transfer section and a secondary transfer section, and disposed at a predetermined position relative to the intermediate transfer member. The preliminary charger applies a charge to a toner image on the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: An air conditioner monitoring system includes: a plurality of air conditioners (10) each including a refrigerant circuit (11) for performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle; a local controller (60) provided for each of sets of several ones of the air conditioners (10) for receiving data output by the each of sets of several ones of the air conditioners (10), and transmitting predetermined operation data; and a host controller (70) for receiving the operation data of the plurality of air conditioners (10) transmitted by the local controllers (60) through communication lines (53). The host controller (70) calculates air conditioning capability and power consumption of each of the air conditioners (10) in the each of sets of several ones of the air conditioners (10), and calculates energy utilization efficiency of each of the air conditioners (10).

Abstract: A belt transfer device according to the present invention includes an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer member, a shifter, a detector, and a controller. The transfer member primarily transfers a toner image from an image carrier to the intermediate transfer belt. The shifter reciprocates in specified opposite directions so as to shift the transfer member between a transfer position where the transfer member is in compressive contact with the inner surface of the intermediate transfer belt and a home position where the transfer member is away from the belt surface. The detector outputs a signal representing the position of the shifter. Based on the state of the signal output from the detector while the shifter is reciprocating each time in the opposite directions, the controller determines whether the tensile force of the intermediate transfer belt is proper.

Abstract: As a projection extending member is arranged adjacently to a projection, a sensor S1 produces an “ON” state output when an eccentric cam starts turning even in non-printing mode. The time from when the eccentric cam starts turning until sensor S1 changes its output from “ON” to “OFF” becomes longer when a new intermediate transfer belt unit is used than when a used intermediate transfer belt unit is used. The length of this time is measured so as to detect whether the intermediate transfer belt unit is brand-new or old.

Abstract: As a projection extending member is arranged adjacently to a projection, a sensor S1 produces an “ON” state output when an eccentric cam starts turning even in non-printing mode. The time from when the eccentric cam starts turning until sensor S1 changes its output from “ON” to “OFF” becomes longer when a new intermediate transfer belt unit is used than when a used intermediate transfer belt unit is used. The length of this time is measured so as to detect whether the intermediate transfer belt unit is brand-new or old.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt that primarily transfers a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum; a secondary transfer unit including a transfer mechanism portion that secondarily transfers the primarily transferred toner image to a paper; an optical sensor that detects a reference toner image on the transfer belt; and a shutter that protects a detection face of the optical sensor, wherein a separation/contact mechanism portion disposed so as to be brought into contact with both of the shutter and the secondary transfer unit is provided, and the separation/contact mechanism portion allows the shutter to move so as to open and allows the secondary transfer unit to move so as to separate from the transfer belt when the reference toner image is detected by the optical sensor, and allows the shutter to move so as to separate from the transfer belt when the secondary transfer unit is drawn out from an apparatus main body.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes: an intermediate transfer belt that (i) holds a toner image that has been transferred from a photoreceptor drum and (ii) moves a surface holding the toner image; and a secondary transfer belt that comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt. The transfer unit (i) transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt to a sheet conveyed to the secondary transfer part and (ii) includes a cleaning unit that removes and collects toner from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. The transfer unit also includes a power source for sequentially applying, to the secondary transfer belt, (i) a first voltage for generating an electric field that transfers normally-charged toner from the secondary transfer belt to the intermediate transfer belt and (ii) a second voltage for generating an electric field that transfers oppositely-charged toner from the secondary transfer belt to the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A belt transfer device according to the present invention includes an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer member, a shifter, a detector, and a controller. The transfer member primarily transfers a toner image from an image carrier to the intermediate transfer belt. The shifter reciprocates in specified opposite directions so as to shift the transfer member between a transfer position where the transfer member is in compressive contact with the inner surface of the intermediate transfer belt and a home position where the transfer member is away from the belt surface. The detector outputs a signal representing the position of the shifter. Based on the state of the signal output from the detector while the shifter is reciprocating each time in the opposite directions, the controller determines whether the tensile force of the intermediate transfer belt is proper.

Abstract: Providing a simply-arranged detaching/attaching mechanism and image forming device which allow a transfer supporter device to be detached/attached through a space formed by opening an outer covering, the device includes photosensitive drums, detachable/attachable transfer belt unit, and rail members supporting a transfer belt unit. Each of the rail members includes a rail groove guiding the transfer belt unit, notch and positioning hole determining the position of the transfer belt unit when the belt is in contact with the photosensitive drums, and notch and convex section determining the position of the transfer belt unit when the belt is detached from the photosensitive drums. The transfer belt unit support with respect to the main body of the image forming device, performed by the rail members, is released in response to the action of opening the side cover, so that the transfer belt unit is in a free state.