Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: a replacement detector that detects that a toner bottle has been replaced; a developer that develops an electrostatic latent image by using a toner supplied from the toner bottle and stored; a fog detector that detects a fog amount; and a determiner that determines whether or not the detected fog amount continuously exceeds a predetermined threshold value in a state where a toner supplied from a toner bottle before replacement and a toner supplied from a toner bottle after replacement are mixed in the developer.

Abstract: An elastic member that comes into contact with a moving body that moves in a predetermined moving direction to scrape off a deposit on the moving body includes: a stress reducer that is provided at a contact end on a side to be in contact with the moving body and reduces vibration of internal stress generated due to contact between the moving body and the elastic member, wherein the stress reducer extends in a direction that is not perpendicular to the moving direction when the elastic member comes in contact with the moving body.

Abstract: An elastic member that comes into contact with a moving body that moves in a predetermined moving direction to scrape off a deposit on the moving body includes: a stress reducer that is provided at a contact end on a side to be in contact with the moving body and reduces vibration of internal stress generated due to contact between the moving body and the elastic member, wherein the stress reducer extends in a direction that is not perpendicular to the moving direction when the elastic member comes in contact with the moving body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a toner image, a developer that develops a toner image on the image carrier, with a developing agent containing toner and carrier, a transferor that transfers the toner image being carried by the image carrier, a collection mechanism that collects the carrier on the image carrier by a magnetic force and an electrostatic force, and a hardware processor that controls removal of the toner adhering to the collection mechanism. The collection mechanism includes a collection roller that incorporates a magnet and that is rotatable while facing the image carrier, and a voltage applicator that applies a voltage to the collection roller. The hardware processor performs a toner removal mode to remove the toner, by setting a peripheral speed of at least one of the image carrier and the collection roller to less than a peripheral speed thereof for image formation.

Abstract: A cleaning device scrapes off and removes toner that has adhered to a surface of a rotating photoreceptor, and includes: a cleaning member formed of an elastic body; a leaf spring member for pressing the cleaning member against the surface of the photoreceptor; and a support portion supporting the leaf spring member. The cleaning member is fixed to one end of the leaf spring member, and the other end of the leaf spring member is fixed to the support portion with a cushioning member formed of an elastic body interposed therebetween. The cushioning member is fixed to the other end of the leaf spring member by an adhesive.

Abstract: A cleaning device scrapes off and removes toner that has adhered to a surface of a rotating photoreceptor, and includes: a cleaning member formed of an elastic body; a leaf spring member for pressing the cleaning member against the surface of the photoreceptor; and a support portion supporting the leaf spring member. The cleaning member is fixed to one end of the leaf spring member, and the other end of the leaf spring member is fixed to the support portion with a cushioning member formed of an elastic body interposed therebetween. The cushioning member is fixed to the other end of the leaf spring member by an adhesive.

Abstract: A photo conductor cleaning device removes substances adhered to a surface of a photo conductor which moves around the axis of rotation. The photo conductor cleaning device is equipped with a device main body, a tip blade, and a flexible supporting sheet metal plate which holds the tip blade and makes the tip blade contact with the photo conductor. The supporting sheet metal plate is fixed to the device main body by two fixing portions which are places at different locations, as seen from a cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the photo conductor. The supporting sheet metal plate is supported at the both ends by the two fixing portions support.

Abstract: A cleaning device scrapes off and removes toner that has adhered to a surface of a rotating photoreceptor, and includes: a cleaning member formed of an elastic body; a leaf spring member for pressing the cleaning member against the surface of the photoreceptor; and a support portion supporting the leaf spring member. The cleaning member is fixed to one end of the leaf spring member, and the other end of the leaf spring member is fixed to the support portion with a cushioning member formed of an elastic body interposed therebetween. The cushioning member is fixed to the other end of the leaf spring member by an adhesive.

Abstract: A power supply applies a first charged voltage to a charging section disposed near an image carrier during a predetermined process and applies second charged voltages sequentially to the charging section in obtaining a predetermined peak-to-peak voltage value for an alternating-current voltage of the first charged voltage. Each of the second charged voltages includes an alternating-current voltage having a peak-to-peak voltage value varying between a forward discharge range and a back discharge range. A current sensing section senses the alternating-current running through the charging section upon application of each of the second charged voltages.

Abstract: A photo conductor cleaning device removes substances adhered to a surface of a photo conductor which moves around the axis of rotation. The photo conductor cleaning device is equipped with a device main body, a tip blade, and a flexible supporting sheet metal plate which holds the tip blade and makes the tip blade contact with the photo conductor. The supporting sheet metal plate is fixed to the device main body by two fixing portions which are places at different locations, as seen from a cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the photo conductor. The supporting sheet metal plate is supported at the both ends by the two fixing portions support.

Abstract: A power supply applies a first charged voltage to a charging section disposed near an image carrier during a predetermined process and applies second charged voltages sequentially to the charging section in obtaining a predetermined peak-to-peak voltage value for an alternating-current voltage of the first charged voltage. Each of the second charged voltages includes an alternating-current voltage having a peak-to-peak voltage value varying between a forward discharge range and a back discharge range. A current sensing section senses the alternating-current running through the charging section upon application of each of the second charged voltages.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photoconductors. Electrifiers uniformly electrify surfaces of the photoconductors. A power source applies an electrifying voltage to the electrifiers. A current measurer measures alternating current caused to flow by application of AC voltage by the power source. A controller calculates discharge starting voltage. Environment detectors detect an environment inside of the apparatus. The controller operates the current measurer at each predetermined timing to acquire the discharge starting voltage. When acquiring the discharge starting voltage, the controller changes peak-to-peak voltage at pre-discharge voltage and at post-discharge voltage. The current measurer measures alternating current at measurement points of each of the pre-discharge and post-discharge voltages. The controller calculates a voltage value at an intersection of a first line and a second line.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor rotatable about an axis, and having a surface with a photosensitive layer abraded during use, a charging unit configured to charge the surface of the photoreceptor, an exposure unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor, a developing unit configured to form a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor, and a control unit configured to obtain a film thickness of the photosensitive layer for each of a plurality of different positions in a direction of a rotation axis of the photoreceptor, and perform abrasion operation at a first or second position of the plurality of positions, when a difference in film thickness between the first position and the second position exceeds a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor rotatable about an axis, and having a surface with a photosensitive layer abraded during use, a charging unit configured to charge the surface of the photoreceptor, an exposure unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor, a developing unit configured to form a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor, and a control unit configured to obtain a film thickness of the photosensitive layer for each of a plurality of different positions in a direction of a rotation axis of the photoreceptor, and perform abrasion operation at a first or second position of the plurality of positions, when a difference in film thickness between the first position and the second position exceeds a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photoconductors. Electrifiers uniformly electrify surfaces of the photoconductors. A power source applies an electrifying voltage to the electrifiers. A current measurer measures alternating current caused to flow by application of AC voltage by the power source. A controller calculates discharge starting voltage. Environment detectors detect an environment inside of the apparatus. The controller operates the current measurer at each predetermined timing to acquire the discharge starting voltage. When acquiring the discharge starting voltage, the controller changes peak-to-peak voltage at pre-discharge voltage and at post-discharge voltage. The current measurer measures alternating current at measurement points of each of the pre-discharge and post-discharge voltages. The controller calculates a voltage value at an intersection of a first line and a second line.

Abstract: A development device having: a main unit having formed therein a first space and a second space extending in a first direction perpendicular to a vertical direction, a first communicating portion and a second communicating portion that allow the first space and the second space to communicate with each other at both ends in the first direction; a first stirring member that extends in the first direction within the first space; a second stirring member that is positioned within the first space between the first stirring member and the second space and extends in the first direction; a conveyance member that extends in the first direction within the second space; and a developer support member that extends in the first direction within the second space.

Abstract: A development device having: a main unit having formed therein a first space and a second space extending in a first direction perpendicular to a vertical direction, a first communicating portion and a second communicating portion that allow the first space and the second space to communicate with each other at both ends in the first direction; a first stirring member that extends in the first direction within the first space; a second stirring member that is positioned within the first space between the first stirring member and the second space and extends in the first direction; a conveyance member that extends in the first direction within the second space; and a developer support member that extends in the first direction within the second space.

Abstract: The present invention provides a developing apparatus capable of predicting how much carrier is accumulated inside a developer tank beyond the discharge level of a trickle discharging mechanism in the case that images having high coverage ratios are printed out continuously in a trickle developing apparatus that uses a two-component developer.

Abstract: A housing of a developing apparatus is provided with a conveying member in a developer supplying and recovering portion, and two agitating members rotating in the same direction respectively as viewing rotating shafts from a near side in an axial direction, in a developer agitating portion. A guide is provided in an inner bottom surface of the housing between two agitating members. A braking portion suppressing a discharge of a developer is provided in a downstream side of the developer agitating portion in a developer conveying direction of the second agitating member, and a discharge portion is provided in a downstream side of a disc of the braking portion.

Abstract: A housing of a developing apparatus is provided with a conveying member in a developer supplying and recovering portion, and with two agitating members rotating from the below to the above in portions opposed to each other in a developer agitating portion. A guide is provided in an inner bottom surface of the housing between two agitating members. A braking portion suppressing a discharge of a developer is provided in a downstream side of the developer agitating portion in a developer conveying direction of the second agitating member, and a discharge portion is provided in a downstream side of a disc of the braking portion.