Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes an endless conveyance belt including an insulating material, formed into a loop, a suction device, and a plurality of rollers. The conveyance belt includes a plurality of holes. The suction device is disposed inside the loop of the conveyance belt, to generate a suction force to attract a recording medium onto a surface of the conveyance belt through the plurality of holes in the conveyance belt. Each of the plurality of rollers, which are stretching the conveyance belt, includes a conductive material and is electrically grounded.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a toner image; a transfer member that forms a transfer nip between the transfer member and the image carrier; and a power supply capable of outputting a superimposed transfer bias in which an alternating current component is superimposed onto a direct current component. The toner image on the image carrier is transferred onto a recording medium in the transfer nip by the superimposed transfer bias or a direct current bias consisting of the direct current component output by the power supply. The apparatus also includes a controller that controls the power supply so that an output target value of the direct current component when the direct current component rises up is larger than an output target value of the direct current component when the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium.

Abstract: The transfer assembly includes a belt, a transfer device, a contact-and-separation device including a retainer, and a first vibration absorber. The transfer device contacts an image bearer via the belt to form a transfer nip portion between the image bearer and the belt and to transfer the toner image onto one of a surface of the belt and a recording medium carried on the surface of the belt. The contact-and-separation device moves the transfer device to contact and separate from the image bearer. The retainer is pivotally supported by a swingable shaft and movable in a first direction in which the transfer device approaches the image bearer and in a second direction opposite to the first direction in which the transfer device separates from the image bearer, to hold the transfer device. The first vibration absorber absorbs vibration transmitted from the swingable shaft to the transfer device via the retainer.

Abstract: A static eliminator includes a plurality of static eliminating needles, a holder including a retaining surface on which the plurality of static eliminating needles is held, a plurality of partitions, and a restriction member including a first end portion having a restriction surface at a static eliminating needle side to contact the static eliminating needles. A length of the plurality of static eliminating needles from the first end portion of the restriction member as an origin to a leading end of the plurality of static eliminating needles is shorter than a distance from the origin to an end surface of the plurality of partitions within the range of movement of the plurality of static eliminating needles from the retaining surface up to a position five degrees (5°) below the restriction surface in an angle between the retaining surface and an imaginary plane including the restriction surface.

Abstract: A static eliminator includes a plurality of static eliminating needles, a holder including a retaining surface on which the plurality of static eliminating needles is held, a plurality of partitions, and a restriction member including a first end portion having a restriction surface at a static eliminating needle side to contact the static eliminating needles. A length of the plurality of static eliminating needles from the first end portion of the restriction member as an origin to a leading end of the plurality of static eliminating needles is shorter than a distance from the origin to an end surface of the plurality of partitions within the range of movement of the plurality of static eliminating needles from the retaining surface up to a position five degrees (5°) below the restriction surface in an angle between the retaining surface and an imaginary plane including the restriction surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a toner image; a transfer member that forms a transfer nip between the transfer member and the image carrier; and a power supply capable of outputting a superimposed transfer bias in which an alternating current component is superimposed onto a direct current component. The toner image on the image carrier is transferred onto a recording medium in the transfer nip by the superimposed transfer bias or a direct current bias consisting of the direct current component output by the power supply. The apparatus also includes a controller that controls the power supply so that an output target value of the direct current component when the direct current component rises up is larger than an output target value of the direct current component when the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second belt members, at least one color image carrier, a separate image carrier, a primary transfer member, a secondary transfer mechanism, a direct transfer member, a first image detector to detect positional deviation of transferred images from reference pattern images, and a controller to transfer the reference pattern images formed on the at least one color image carrier and the separate image carrier onto the first belt member or onto the second belt member, convey the reference pattern images to the first image detector, cause the first image detector to detect the reference pattern images, and adjust one or more image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus to prevent positional deviation of the transferred images from the reference pattern images based on detection results obtained by the first image detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image carrier and a recording medium conveyor forming a transfer nip therebetween, a conveyance member disposed closest to the transfer nip on an upstream side of the transfer nip to convey the recording medium to the transfer nip, and a conveyance control mechanism to deactivate the conveyance member to stop providing a conveyance force to the recording medium after the leading edge of the recording medium has entered the transfer nip and before the trailing edge of the recording medium passes a point of force application and remaining in the inactive state until the recording medium passes the point of force application. The conveyance force remains unapplied to the recording medium from when the conveyance control mechanism deactivates the conveyance member to when the trailing edge of the recording medium passes the transfer nip.

Abstract: A roller device that can be exchangeably used in an image forming apparatus includes a roller, a shaft, and two grip members. The roller is configured to cover the shaft along the rotation axis and have two roller ends from which the two shaft end portions of the shaft are projected outwardly along the rotation axis. A shaft is configured to have a rotation axis at a center thereof and have two shaft end portions. The two grip members are each configured to be rotatably disposed to a respective shaft end portion of the two shaft end portions.

Abstract: A toner bottle includes: a bottle main part to contain toner therein and having a rotational axis; an outlet at an end of the bottle main part; a spiral raised ridge in an inner wall of the bottle main part and arranged to deliver the toner contained in the bottle main part to the outlet by rotation of the bottle main part around the rotational axis; a plurality of toner guiding portions on a side of the spiral raised ridge adjacent to the outlet and arranged to move the toner to the outlet beyond the spiral raised ridge; and a gear adjacent to the outlet to rotate the bottle main part around the rotational axis. The bottle main part has a diameter larger than a diameter of the outlet, and the gear is formed integrally with the bottle main part between the outlet and the plurality of toner guiding portions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, a transfer mechanism including a first endless belt receiving a toner image formed on an image carrier and a second endless belt receiving the toner image formed on the first endless belt, a first detector to detect a speed of movement of the first endless belt or a toner image transferred at a predetermined position on the first endless belt, a belt speed adjustment unit to adjust a speed of movement of the first endless belt based on results obtained by the first detector, a second detector to detect the toner image transferred at a predetermined position on the second endless belt, and a transfer adjustment unit to adjust a speed of movement of the second endless belt based on results obtained by the second detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for use with a toner container which dispenses toner to the image forming apparatus, depending on an angular position of a rotatable cap of the toner container. The rotatable cap has a handle attached thereto. There is a toner container holder to support the toner container which permits the cap of the toner container to rotate. The image forming apparatus has a cover to selectively cover and uncover the toner container. There is also a device which moves with movement of the cover which interacts with the handle of the toner container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for use with a toner container which dispenses toner to the image forming apparatus, depending on an angular position of a rotatable cap of the toner container. The rotatable cap has a handle attached thereto. There is a toner container holder to support the toner container which permits the cap of the toner container to rotate. The image forming apparatus has a cover to selectively cover and uncover the toner container. There is also a device which moves with movement of the cover which interacts with the handle of the toner container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.

Abstract: In a lubricant applying device, a position adjusting member adjusts relative positions of a lubricant and a rotating member. The rotating member rotates while in contact with the lubricant, receives the lubricant, and applies the lubricant to an image carrier in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers and a transfer assembly. The transfer assembly includes a plurality of transferees, a supporter, and a plurality of transferee holders. The plurality of transferers is each configured to electrostatically transfer a toner image carried on one of the image carriers onto an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium. The supporter is configured to support the transferers. The transferer holders are each configured to hold one of the transferers. Each of the transferee holders and the transferer held thereby form an integrated individual unit independently attachable to and detachable from the supporter.

Abstract: A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input unit is provided adjacent to the outlet and has a small-diameter portion an inside diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the container main part wherein, when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the input unit is engaged with a drive motor of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotating force of the drive motor. A developer guiding unit causes the developer inside the developer container to be moved to the outlet beyond the small-diameter portion of the input unit by rotation of the developer container.