Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a first blade and a second blade. The first blade is in contact with an image carrier or a paper carrier and removes adhered substances remained on surface of these. The second blade has an abrasive layer that is formed by including abrasive particles in an elastic material and is disposed in the downstream side of the first blade. The second blade is allowed to be in contact with the image carrier 1 or the paper carrier. Volume occupancy of abrasive particles in an area of contact of the second blade with either the image carrier or the paper carrier is not less than 50 percent and not more than 90 percent.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a first blade and a second blade. The first blade is in contact with an image carrier or a paper carrier and removes adhered substances remained on surface of these. The second blade has an abrasive layer that is formed by including abrasive particles in an elastic material and is disposed in the downstream side of the first blade. The second blade is allowed to be in contact with the image carrier 1 or the paper carrier. Volume occupancy of abrasive particles in an area of contact of the second blade with either the image carrier or the paper carrier is not less than 50 percent and not more than 90 percent.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a first blade and a second blade. The first blade is in contact with an image carrier or a paper carrier and removes adhered substances remained on surface of these. The second blade has an abrasive layer that is formed by including abrasive particles in an elastic material and is disposed in the downstream side of the first blade. The second blade is allowed to be in contact with the image carrier 1 or the paper carrier. Volume occupancy of abrasive particles in an area of contact of the second blade with either the image carrier or the paper carrier is not less than 50 percent and not more than 90 percent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of preventing toner offset is disclosed that includes an image forming mechanism and a fixing device. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, a cleaning roller, a temperature detector, and a cooler. The temperature detector detects a surface temperature of at least one of the fixing rotator, the pressure rotator, and the cleaning roller. The cooler operates based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector. An image forming method and an image fixing method are also described.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of preventing toner offset is disclosed that includes an image forming mechanism and a fixing device. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, a cleaning roller, a temperature detector, and a cooler. The temperature detector detects a surface temperature of at least one of the fixing rotator, the pressure rotator, and the cleaning roller. The cooler operates based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector. An image forming method and an image fixing method are also described.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a first blade and a second blade. The first blade is in contact with an image carrier or a paper carrier and removes adhered substances remained on surface of these. The second blade has an abrasive layer that is formed by including abrasive particles in an elastic material and is disposed in the downstream side of the first blade. The second blade is allowed to be in contact with the image carrier 1 or the paper carrier. Volume occupancy of abrasive particles in an area of contact of the second blade with either the image carrier or the paper carrier is not less than 50 percent and not more than 90 percent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoconductive member, a charging mechanism, an optical writing mechanism, a development mechanism, a sensing mechanism, and a controlling mechanism. The charging mechanism charges a surface of the photoconductive member at a charge voltage. The optical writing mechanism writes latent images including first and second latent images on the surface of the photoconductive member. The development mechanism develops the first latent image into a first toner pattern at a solid toner density and the second latent image into a second toner pattern at a half-tone tone density. The sensing mechanism detects reflection densities of the first and second toner patterns and generates output signals representing detection results detected by the sensing mechanism. The controlling mechanism adjusts values of the solid toner density, the charge voltage, and the half-tone toner density based on the output signals.

Abstract: A developing device of an image forming apparatus using a two-component developer including toner and carrier includes a developer stirring device to stir the developer to change the toner of the developer, a developing sleeve to rotate and to carry on its surface the developer, and a conductive doctor blade or configured to regulate a thickness of the developer on the developing sleeve. The doctor blade is either grounded or receives a voltage of an electric polarity opposite to that of the toner. An electric potential of the developing sleeve is set to a same electric polarity as that of the toner, and the toner is moved toward a latent image formed on a photoconductor of the image forming apparatus so as to adhere to the latent image by an electric field formed between the developing sleeve and the latent image on the photoconductor.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus which forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor includes a developing device configured to accommodate a two-component developer including toner and carrier and to develop the electrostatic latent image with the developer. Toner which has been used for developing the electrostatic latent image is recycled to the developing device so as to be used again. The developing device includes a developer conveying path so as to convey the recycled toner therethrough. A screening member having openings to screen the recycled toner is arranged in the developer conveying path.

Abstract: A developing device of an image forming apparatus using a two-component developer including toner and carrier includes a developer stirring device to stir the developer to change the toner of the developer, a developing sleeve to rotate and to carry on its surface the developer, and a conductive doctor blade or configured to regulate a thickness of the developer on the developing sleeve. The doctor blade is either grounded or receives a voltage of an electric polarity opposite to that of the toner. An electric potential of the developing sleeve is set to a same electric polarity as that of the toner, and the toner is moved toward a latent image formed on a photoconductor of the image forming apparatus so as to adhere to the latent image by an electric field formed between the developing sleeve and the latent image on the photoconductor.

Abstract: A toner content control device for an electrophotographic apparatus of the type using a toner and carrier mixture. The control device determines an amount of toner replenishment on the basis of a difference between the toner content of the developer and a reference value, while correcting the reference value in accordance with the condition of a reference pattern formed on a photoconductive element. Although the control device includes a toner content sensor and a pattern density sensor, it omits conventional means for adjusting the toner content sensor. The control device is therefore capable of controlling image density stably with an inexpensive configuration.

Abstract: A paper guide device for guiding a sheet of paper to an image transfer device includes an upper guide plate and a lower guide plate, and an elastic transfer guide plate which is attached to the upper paper guide plate. A free end of the elastic transfer guide plate faces the transfer device and is bent downward such that a bend or crease line is perpendicular to a paper feed direction. The free end of the elastic transfer guide plate is parallel to paper feed direction at a transfer position to better orient/direct the paper as it approaches a photosensitive member or image transfer location. The arrangement allows for a compact paper feed design, while avoiding adverse effects which can occur where paper (particularly thicker paper) springs as it exits a paper guide.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including bias application control which controls bias application to prevent unnecessary toner-adhering to a photosensitive element due to fogging at the start of operation a photosensitive drum for image forming and on completion of operation of the photosensitive drum. Bias control is implemented so that operation of the photosensitive drum starts with a positive development bias voltage applied to both a first development roller and a second development roller from a power source, and a charger for charging the drum turns on. The polarity of applied development bias voltage is then changed from the positive development bias voltage to a negative development bias voltage. Furthermore, a developer drive clutch of the developer unit turns on before a leading edge portion of an electrostatic latent image area on the photosensitive element reaches a position facing the upstream end of the first roller.

Abstract: A method of controlling the density of images produced by an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to a constant value. A toner density sensor is provided with a first reference level variable in response to the output of an image density sensor, and a second reference level representative of a state associated with the optimum condition of a developer (e.g. immediately after replacement thereof). During usual control, the toner concentration of the developer is detected on the basis of the output of the toner density sensor, and the toner supply to the developer is controlled on the basis of the result of comparison of the detected toner concentration and the first reference level.

Abstract: A method applicable to an image forming apparatus which is implemented by an electrophotographic procedure for maintaining that the density of images to be produced by the apparatus is adequate at all times. When the density of a toner image of a reference image or a predetermined pattern sensed by the image density sensor lies in a predetermined adequate range, a sensing level associated with the toner density sensor responsive to the toner density of a developer is not changed. When the density of the toner image does not lie in the adequate range, it is determined that at least the sensing level of the toner density sensing being used at that time has to be changed. Then, whether or not the sensed density of the toner image of the reference image exists in a range in which the image density is controllable is determined.

Abstract: A toner density control device for an electrophotographic copier, facsimile apparatus, printer or similar image recorder of the type developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductive element, or image carrier, by using a developer in the form of a toner. The device includes a switch accessible for commanding a shift of an adjustable range of image density from a designed or standard range particular to the image recorder. The switch allows a person to select image density higher or lower than the standard adjustable range as desired.

Abstract: An image transfer system includes an image bearing member made of a photoconductive layer and an electrically conductive backing layer, a current detector connected between the backing layer and ground, a transfer corona unit for applying corona ions to a back side of a transfer sheet brought into contact with the exposed surface of the photoconductive layer on which a toner image is carried, a power supply for applying power to the corona unit, and a controller for controlling the power supply in response to a current level detected by the current detector. This system maintains the image transfer efficiency substantially at a constant level irrespective of the condition of transfer sheet used, and in particular to the water content of the sheet.