Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a belt having a carrying surface that carries a recording sheet; a photosensitive body disposed opposite to the carrying surface of the belt; a transferring member which is disposed opposite to the photosensitive body such that the carrying surface of the belt is disposed between the transferring member and the photosensitive body, and a transferring bias is applied to the transferring member; a cleaning member arranged adjacent to an outer peripheral surface of the belt; and a control unit for controlling a voltage that is applied to the cleaning member. The control unit causes a first voltage to be applied to the cleaning member during a first mode. The control unit causes a second voltage, different from the first voltage, to be applied to the cleaning member during a second mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an object to be cleaned, a cleaning device, a generation device, a control device, a voltage detection device and a load resistance detection device. The cleaning device cleans the object to be cleaned. The generation device generates a cleaning voltage in the cleaning device. The control device controls the generation device thereby to control the cleaning voltage. The voltage detection device detects the cleaning voltage generated in the cleaning device. The load resistance detection device detects a load resistance between the object to be cleaned and the cleaning device, based on at least one control parameter to be used by the control device to control the generation device and the cleaning voltage detected by the voltage detection device.

Abstract: A belt cleaning device includes a cleaning roller, a backup roller, and a roller-pressing-state setting mechanism. The cleaning roller is disposed in confrontation with a surface of a belt. The backup roller is disposed in confrontation with the cleaning roller with the belt interposed between the cleaning roller and the backup roller. The roller-pressing-state setting mechanism selectively sets a state of the backup roller to a first state in which the backup roller is pressed against the cleaning roller via the belt, allowing a first pressure to be applied between the cleaning roller and the surface of the belt, and a second state in which a second pressure is applied between the cleaning roller and the surface of the belt. The second pressure is less than the first pressure.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a cleaning unit, a toner detection unit, a control unit, and a cleaning target member in the housing. The cleaning unit applies a predetermined voltage with a predetermined absolute value to the cleaning target member to remove toner from the cleaning target member through an electrostatic force. The toner detection unit detects an amount of toner on the cleaning target member at least twice to detect a first amount of toner and a second amount of toner. The first amount and the second amount of toner are detected when a first voltage having a first absolute value is applied as the predetermined voltage at a first time and when a second voltage having a second absolute value is applied as the predetermined voltage at a second time. The control unit determines the predetermined absolute value based on the first toner amount and the second toner amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a belt having a carrying surface that carries a recording sheet; a photosensitive body disposed opposite to the carrying surface of the belt; a transferring member which is disposed opposite to the photosensitive body such that the carrying surface of the belt is disposed between the transferring member and the photosensitive body, and a transferring bias is applied to the transferring member; a cleaning member arranged adjacent to an outer peripheral surface of the belt; and a control unit for controlling a voltage that is applied to the cleaning member. The control unit causes a first voltage to be applied to the cleaning member during a first mode. The control unit causes a second voltage, different from the first voltage, to be applied to the cleaning member during a second mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a belt, a cleaning roller opposed to a surface of the belt, a voltage generating circuit generating a voltage applied to the cleaning roller, a voltage value detecting circuit detecting a voltage value applied to the cleaning roller, a control unit controlling the voltage generating circuit by inputting a control signal to the voltage generating circuit such that the voltage value detected by the voltage value detecting circuit is set to the same value as a target voltage value, and a target voltage value setting section setting the target voltage value based on a duty of the control signal input from the control unit to the voltage generating circuit.

Abstract: A cleaning member is for use in contact with a photosensitive member in an electrophotographic process to remove a paper dust adhered to the photosensitive member. The cleaning member includes: a base fabric; and fibers electrostatically implanted on a surface of the base fabric and lying substantially flat along the surface of the base fabric.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided with a photoreceptor, a belt, a back member, a front member, and a voltage change device. The belt faces the photoreceptor. The back member is disposed on a back side of the belt. The front member is disposed on a front side of the belt. The front member is disposed adjacent to the belt and faces the back member. The voltage change device is configured to change voltage between the back member and the front member within a range excluding zero. Based on detected conditions such as the number of sheets printed, the replacement of a developer cartridge, or the current between the back member and the front member, the voltage change device change the voltage between the back member and the front member to enhance the ability to clean the belt.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a conveyance unit that conveys a sheet along a sheet conveying path; a paper dust removal roller that is provided in the sheet conveying path to cover a range that is longer than a width of the sheet, the paper dust removal roller removing paper dust that is adhered to the sheet by rotating as the sheet is conveyed; a first dust removing member that contacts with a first portion of the paper dust removal roller where contacts with edges of the sheet, and removes paper dust that is adhered to a surface of the paper dust removal roller; and a second dust removing member that contacts with a second portion of the paper dust removal roller where contacts with a surface of the sheet, and remove paper dust that is adhered to the surface of the paper dust removal roller.

Abstract: A replaceable unit is detachably attached into an image forming apparatus. The replaceable unit includes: a first cover member provided with a through hole that indicates a direction of the attachment and the detachment of the replaceable unit with respect to the image forming apparatus; and a second cover member having a color different from a color of the first cover member, and being formed to block the through hole from inner side of the replaceable unit when the first cover member is attached to the second cover member.

Abstract: A replaceable unit is detachably attached into an image forming apparatus. The replaceable unit includes: a first cover member provided with a through hole that indicates a direction of the attachment and the detachment of the replaceable unit with respect to the image forming apparatus; and a second cover member having a color different from a color of the first cover member, and being formed to block the through hole from inner side of the replaceable unit when the first cover member is attached to the second cover member.

Abstract: A replaceable unit that is removably coupled to a storage portion of a main body provided in an image forming apparatus, the replaceable unit having a first picture split provided on the replaceable unit that forms a finished picture with a second picture split provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus when the replaceable unit is coupled to the storage portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a belt, a cleaning roller opposed to a surface of the belt, a voltage generating circuit generating a voltage applied to the cleaning roller, a voltage value detecting circuit detecting a voltage value applied to the cleaning roller, a control unit controlling the voltage generating circuit by inputting a control signal to the voltage generating circuit such that the voltage value detected by the voltage value detecting circuit is set to the same value as a target voltage value, and a target voltage value setting section setting the target voltage value based on a duty of the control signal input from the control unit to the voltage generating circuit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an object to be cleaned, a cleaning device, a generation device, a control device, a voltage detection device and a load resistance detection device. The cleaning device cleans the object to be cleaned. The generation device generates a cleaning voltage in the cleaning device. The control device controls the generation device thereby to control the cleaning voltage. The voltage detection device detects the cleaning voltage generated in the cleaning device. The load resistance detection device detects a load resistance between the object to be cleaned and the cleaning device, based on at least one control parameter to be used by the control device to control the generation device and the cleaning voltage detected by the voltage detection device.

Abstract: An image-forming device has a housing, a cleaning unit, a toner detection unit, and a control unit. The cleaning target member is provided in the housing. The cleaning unit applies a predetermined voltage to the cleaning target member to remove toner from the cleaning target member through an electrostatic force. The predetermined voltage has a predetermined absolute value. The toner detection unit detects an amount of toner on the cleaning target member at least twice. The detected amount of toner includes a first amount of toner and a second amount of toner. The first amount of toner is detected when a first voltage having a first absolute value is applied as the predetermined voltage at a first time,. The second amount of toner is detected when a second voltage having a second absolute value is applied as the predetermined voltage at a second time. The second time is later than the first time.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided with a photoreceptor, a belt, a back member, a first front member, and a first voltage change device. The belt faces the photoreceptor. The back member is disposed on a back side of the belt. The first front member is disposed on a front side of the belt. The first front member is disposed adjacent to the belt and faces the back member. The first voltage change device is capable of changing voltage between the back member and the first front member within a range excluding zero.

Abstract: A cleaning member is for use in contact with a photosensitive member in an electrophotographic process to remove a paper dust adhered to the photosensitive member. The cleaning member includes: a base fabric; and fibers electrostatically implanted on a surface of the base fabric and lying substantially flat along the surface of the base fabric.

Abstract: A belt cleaning device includes a cleaning roller, a backup roller, and a roller-pressing-state setting mechanism. The cleaning roller is disposed in confrontation with a surface of a belt. The backup roller is disposed in confrontation with the cleaning roller with the belt interposed between the cleaning roller and the backup roller. The roller-pressing-state setting mechanism selectively sets a state of the backup roller to a first state in which the backup roller is pressed against the cleaning roller via the belt, allowing a first pressure to be applied between the cleaning roller and the surface of the belt, and a second state in which a second pressure is applied between the cleaning roller and the surface of the belt. The second pressure is less than the first pressure.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a conveyance unit that conveys a sheet along a sheet conveying path; a paper dust removal roller that is provided in the sheet conveying path to cover a range that is longer than a width of the sheet, the paper dust removal roller removing paper dust that is adhered to the sheet by rotating as the sheet is conveyed; a first dust removing member that contacts with a first portion of the paper dust removal roller where contacts with edges of the sheet, and removes paper dust that is adhered to a surface of the paper dust removal roller; and a second dust removing member that contacts with a second portion of the paper dust removal roller where contacts with a surface of the sheet, and remove paper dust that is adhered to the surface of the paper dust removal roller.

Abstract: A contaminant removing member for removing contaminants adhering to the surface of the photoconductive member is contacted to and pressed against the surface of the photoconductive member by an engaging and disengaging mechanism only when a contaminant removing operation is performed. Accordingly, the contaminants adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum can be removed while damage to the surface of the photosensitive drum is minimized. Alternatively the contaminant removing operation can be performed by a contaminant removing member removably mounted to one of a toner container or a photosensitive member container.