Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet by forming a plurality of toner images using a plurality of types of toner, and transfer the plurality of toner images onto the sheet, or transfer the plurality of toner images onto the sheet via an intermediate transfer member; and a controller configured to control the forming unit to form a formed image and an antimicrobial pattern on the sheet based on first image data representing the formed image, wherein at least one first toner out of the plurality of types of toner is antimicrobial toner that includes an antimicrobial agent, at least one second toner out of the plurality of types of toner is non-antimicrobial toner that does not contain the antimicrobial agent, and the antimicrobial pattern is formed using the first toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may comprise a holding container that holds a toner containing an antibacterial agent, and an image forming unit that forms an antibacterial region by applying the toner supplied from the holding container to a recording material by performing an image forming process.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member that bears and conveys developer. The developer carrying member has at least a base and a surface layer, with the surface layer having an electron donating portion that mainly donates charge to the developer when the developer and the surface layer make frictional contact to exchange charge and an electron accepting portion that mainly accepts charge from the developer when the developer and the surface layer makes frictional contact to exchange charge. A controller applies an AC voltage to the developer carrying member during a period in which an image forming operation is not performed and the developer carrying member is driven, with the AC voltage being different from that applied during an image forming period, and a rotating speed of the developer carrying member during a non-image forming period is slower than that during an image forming period.

Abstract: A contact member that comes into contact with a surface of a developer carrier has a volume resistivity of 1014 ohm·cm or less, and a developer satisfies the following conditions: a rotating member and the contact member have a resistance value of 1.0×104 ohms or less, and a first resistance value ranges from 1.0×105 ohms to 1.0×108 ohms as measured in a state where the rotating member is stopped and the developer is located between the rotating member and the contact member, and a second resistance value is in the range of the first resistance value and is 40% or more with respect to the first resistance value, as measured in a state where the rotating member is rotated at 200 mm/s with respect to the contact member and the developer is located between the rotating member and the contact member.

Abstract: There is provided a process cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging member, wherein an outer surface of the charging member is composed of at least a matrix and at least a part of domains, a volume resistivity of the matrix is 1.0×105 times or more of a volume resistivity of the domain, an average value Sd of circle equivalent diameters of the domains observed on the outer surface of the charging member is in a predetermined range, the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a support, a photosensitive layer, and a protective layer in this order and when a surface roughness of the protective layer is measured, each of a protruding valley portion Rvk, a load length ratio Mr2, and Sd/Rvk is in a predetermined range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus at least includes: an image bearing member; a developer container; a developer carrying member; and a controller that controls a power source that applies a voltage to the developer carrying member, wherein the developer carrying member has at least a base and a surface layer, the surface layer has an electron donating portion that mainly donates charge to the developer when the developer and the surface layer makes frictional contact to exchange charge and an electron accepting portion that mainly accepts charge from the developer, and the controller applies an AC voltage to the developer carrying member during a period in which an image forming operation is not performed and the developer carrying member is driven, the AC voltage being different from that applied during an image forming period.

Abstract: There is provided a process cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging member, wherein an outer surface of the charging member is composed of at least a matrix and at least a part of domains, a volume resistivity of the matrix is 1.0×105 times or more of a volume resistivity of the domain, an average value Sd of circle equivalent diameters of the domains observed on the outer surface of the charging member is in a predetermined range, the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a support, a photosensitive layer, and a protective layer in this order and when a surface roughness of the protective layer is measured, each of a protruding valley portion Rvk, a load length ratio Mr2, and Sd/Rvk is in a predetermined range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member including a photosensitive layer and a light transmitting surface layer provided outside the photosensitive layer; an exposing unit configured to expose the surface of the photosensitive member to a laser beam which deflects in a main scan direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the surface of the photosensitive member, so that a latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member in the main scan direction; and a controller configured to control a pulse width of an image signal for switching, on the basis of image data, between projection and non-projection of the beam from the exposing unit. The controller controls the pulse width such that it is smaller than when the thickness of the surface layer is larger.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member including a photosensitive layer and a light transmitting surface layer provided outside the photosensitive layer; an exposing unit configured to expose the surface of the photosensitive member to a laser beam which deflects in a main scan direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the surface of the photosensitive member, so that a latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member in the main scan direction; and a controller configured to control a pulse width of an image signal for switching, on the basis of image data, between projection and non-projection of the beam from the exposing unit. The controller controls the pulse width such that it is smaller than when the thickness of the surface layer is larger.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member that can not easily cause charging lines even where it is an electrophotographic photosensitive member employing as a conductive layer a layer containing metal oxide particles is disclosed. Also disclosed are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have such an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a conductive layer which contains titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus or tungsten.

Abstract: A configuration in which an opening is covered with a plurality of partition members is provided, and timings of causing the partition members to move are differentiated, so that torque is reduced.

Abstract: Provided is a developer container, including: a frame body having an opening; a sealing member configured to seal the opening; an unsealing member configured to unseal the opening by moving the sealing member and accommodated inside the frame body; and a part of the sealing member peelably bonded to an outer peripheral edge of the opening on an opposite side of the unsealing member with respect to the opening.

Abstract: The disclosed structure includes a belt-shaped conveying member configured to convey developer. The conveying member includes a partitioning portion, which is a partition for developer contained in a casing with respect to a conveying direction in which the developer is conveyed, wherein, when the developer container is new, a first developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at an upstream side that is upstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction, is larger than a second developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at a downstream side that is downstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container, provided with an opening and configured to accommodate a developer; a sealing member configured to cover the opening; and an unsealing member configured to unseal the opening by moving the sealing member. The sealing member opposes the container at a central opposing portion positioned in a central side and at an end opposing portion positioned at an end side with respect to a longitudinal direction of the unsealing member. The sealing member and the container are bonded to each other at bonding portion which is at least a part of the central opposing portion. The bonding force at the bonding portion of the central opposing portion is larger than a bonding force between the sealing member and the container at the end opposing portion.

Abstract: A configuration in which an opening is covered with a plurality of partition members is provided, and timings of causing the partition members to move are differentiated, so that torque is reduced.

Abstract: The disclosed structure includes a belt-shaped conveying member configured to convey developer. The conveying member includes a partitioning portion, which is a partition for developer contained in a casing with respect to a conveying direction in which the developer is conveyed, wherein, when the developer container is new, a first developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at an upstream side that is upstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction, is larger than a second developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at a downstream side that is downstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container, provided with an opening and configured to accommodate a developer; a sealing member configured to cover the opening; and an unsealing member configured to unseal the opening by moving the sealing member. The sealing member opposes the container at a central opposing portion positioned in a central side and at an end opposing portion positioned at an end side with respect to a longitudinal direction of the unsealing member. The sealing member and the container are bonded to each other at bonding portion which is at least a part of the central opposing portion. The bonding force at the bonding portion of the central opposing portion is larger than a bonding force between the sealing member and the container at the end opposing portion.

Abstract: Provided is a developer container, including: a frame body having an opening; a sealing member configured to seal the opening; an unsealing member configured to unseal the opening by moving the sealing member and accommodated inside the frame body; and a part of the sealing member peelably bonded to an outer peripheral edge of the opening on an opposite side of the unsealing member with respect to the opening.

Abstract: A conductive layer contains a binder material, a first particle, and a second particle. The first particle is composed of a core particle and aluminum-doped zinc oxide covering the core particle or is composed of a core particle and oxygen-deficient zinc oxide covering the core particle. The second particle is of the same material as that of the core particle of the first particle. The content of the first particle is 20% by volume or more and 50% by volume or less of the total volume of the conductive layer. The content of the second particle is 0.1% by volume or more and 15% by volume or less of the total volume of the conductive layer and is 0.5% by volume or more and 30% by volume or less of the volume of the first particle.

Abstract: A conductive layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a binder material, a first metal oxide particle, and a second metal oxide particle. The first metal oxide particle is a zinc oxide particle or tin oxide particle coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, or fluorine. The second metal oxide particle is an uncoated zinc oxide particle or tin oxide particle. The content of the first metal oxide particle is not less than 20% by volume and not more than 50% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer. The content of the second metal oxide particle is not less than 0.1% by volume and not more than 15% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer, and not less than 0.5% by volume and not more than 30% by volume based on the content of the first metal oxide particle.