Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image forming portions provided with first and second image bearing members, respectively. A controller controls a first operation in which the image to be transferred to the recording material is formed only in the first image forming portion, a second operation in which the image to be transferred is formed in the first and second image forming portions, and a supplying operation in which a lubricant is attached to the second image bearing member and supplied to a contacting portion of the second image bearing member. In a case that a stopping time exceeds a predetermined threshold when a start instruction of the first operation is input in a stopping state of the first and second image bearing members, the controller controls to execute the supplying operation during a time from when a current start instruction of the first operation is input until a next start instruction of the first or second operation is input.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image forming portions provided with first and second image bearing member, respectively. A controller controls a first operation in which the image to be transferred to the recording material is formed only in the first image forming portion, a second operation in which the image to be transferred is formed in the first and second image forming portions, and a supplying operation in which a lubricant is attached to the second image bearing member and supplied to a contacting portion of the second image bearing member. In a case that stopping time exceeds a predetermined threshold when a start instruction of the first operation is input in a stopping state of the first and second image bearing members, the controller controls to execute the supplying operation during from a current start instruction of the first operation is input until a next start instruction of the first or second operation is input.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that has an image bearing member to be removably mounted to the image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member, a toner detection unit, an exposure device, a forming unit, and a judgment unit. The judgment unit judges a mounting state of the image bearing member based on whether the toner detection unit detects a toner image transferred on a surface of the intermediate transfer member. When the image bearing member is mounted, first and second patterns of toner images are formed apart by a predetermined interval in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member. Where the toner detection unit detects the first and second patterns of toner images, the judgment unit judges that the image bearing member is mounted. Where one of the first and second patterns is not detected, the judgment unit judges that the image bearing member is not mounted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that has an image bearing member to be removably mounted to the image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member, a toner detection unit, an exposure device, a forming unit, and a judgment unit. The judgment unit judges a mounting state of the image bearing member based on whether the toner detection unit detects a toner image transferred on a surface of the intermediate transfer member. When the image bearing member is mounted, first and second patterns of toner images are formed apart by a predetermined interval in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member. Where the toner detection unit detects the first and second patterns of toner images, the judgment unit judges that the image bearing member is mounted. Where one of the first and second patterns is not detected, the judgment unit judges that the image bearing member is not mounted.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus configured to heat an image formed on a recording material includes a cylindrical rotatable member including a conductive layer, a magnetic core inserted through the rotatable member, a coil helically wound around an outer side of the magnetic core within the rotatable member, and an inverter configured to supply an alternating current to the coil. A frequency of the alternating current supplied from the inverter is within a range of 20.5 to 100 kHz. The conductive layer generates heat by electromagnetic induction due to an alternating magnetic field produced from the alternating current supplied to the coil. The coil is wound at an interval of 1 mm or longer.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus configured to heat an image formed on a recording material includes a cylindrical rotatable member including a conductive layer, a magnetic core inserted through the rotatable member, a coil helically wound around an outer side of the magnetic core within the rotatable member, and an inverter configured to supply an alternating current to the coil. A frequency of the alternating current supplied from the inverter is within a range of 20.5 to 100 kHz. The conductive layer generates heat by electromagnetic induction due to an alternating magnetic field produced from the alternating current supplied to the coil. The coil is wound at an interval of 1 mm or longer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes: an image forming portion for forming the image on the recording material; a fixing portion, including a cylindrical rotatable member having a heat generating layer, for fixing the image on the recording material by heat of the rotatable member; and a temperature detecting portion for detecting a temperature of the rotatable member. The temperature detecting portion monitors a temperature change amount during one rotation of the rotatable member. The rotatable member is heated by the heat generating layer generating heat by a flow of a current in a circumferential direction of the rotatable member. Depending on the temperature change amount, a notification of an abnormality of the image forming apparatus is generated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit, which is configured to, if a developing material image transferred to another member is formed on an image carrier, obtain a print ratio that is a ratio of the area of the formed developing material image with respect to the area of a developing material image capable of being formed on a recording material that is to be printed on, and a threshold value corresponding to a consumption amount of the developing material in a image forming unit and a number of sheets printed, and control an amount of developing material that is to be supplied to a cleaning unit in accordance with the print ratio and the threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes: an image forming portion for forming the image on the recording material; a fixing portion, including a cylindrical rotatable member having a heat generating layer, for fixing the image on the recording material by heat of the rotatable member; and a temperature detecting portion for detecting a temperature of the rotatable member. The temperature detecting portion monitors a temperature change amount during one rotation of the rotatable member. The rotatable member is heated by the heat generating layer generating heat by a flow of a current in a circumferential direction of the rotatable member. Depending on the temperature change amount, abnormality of the image forming apparatus is notified.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus configured to heat an image formed on a recording material includes a cylindrical rotatable member including a conductive layer, a magnetic core inserted through the rotatable member, a coil helically wound around an outer side of the magnetic core within the rotatable member, and an inverter configured to supply an alternating current to the coil. A frequency of the alternating current supplied from the inverter is within a range of 20.5 to 100 kHz. The conductive layer generates heat by electromagnetic induction due to an alternating magnetic field produced from the alternating current supplied to the coil. The coil is wound at an interval of 1 mm or longer.

Abstract: The present invention ensures stable cleaning performance with respect to remaining toner on an intermediate transfer belt without increasing the size and cost of an image forming apparatus. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which residual toner charged by a toner charging member is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to a photosensitive drum, the toner charging member is placed with respect to the intermediate transfer belt in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt such that a first distance of the intermediate transfer belt from a position where a secondary transfer member contacts the intermediate transfer belt to a position where the toner charging member contacts the intermediate transfer belt is longer than a second distance from the position where the toner charging member contacts the intermediate transfer belt to a position where an image bearing member placed most upstream contacts the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a control unit configured to: after an image is formed in a color mode, if an integrated supply amount is larger than or equal to a reference supply amount, cause a supply image with a first amount of developer, otherwise, cause a supply image with a second amount of developer larger that the first amount; and, after an image is formed in the monochrome mode, cause a supply image with a third amount of developer smaller than the first amount, and, to make an interval between recording materials when the supply image with the third amount is formed shorter than an interval between recording materials when the supply image with the first amount or larger is formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit, which is configured to, if a developing material image transferred to another member is formed on an image carrier, obtain a print ratio that is a ratio of the area of the formed developing material image with respect to the area of a developing material image capable of being formed on a recording material that is to be printed on, and a threshold value corresponding to a consumption amount of the developing material in a image forming unit and a number of sheets printed, and control an amount of developing material that is to be supplied to a cleaning unit in accordance with the print ratio and the threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a control unit configured to: after an image is formed in a color mode, if an integrated supply amount is larger than or equal to a reference supply amount, cause a supply image with a first amount of developer, otherwise, cause a supply image with a second amount of developer larger that the first amount; and, after an image is formed in the monochrome mode, cause a supply image with a third amount of developer smaller than the first amount, and, to make an interval between recording materials when the supply image with the third amount is formed shorter than an interval between recording materials when the supply image with the first amount or larger is formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including, a plurality of image bearing members, a plurality of developing units which includes toner storage containers and a belt transferring toner images onto a transfer material, the image forming apparatus being capable of executing a first cleaning mode and a second cleaning mode to move the toner adhering onto the belt onto the image bearing members and to collect the adhering toner into the toner storage containers, wherein, in the first cleaning mode, the adhering toner is collected into the toner storage container of the developing unit developing a black toner, and in the second cleaning mode, a portion of the adhering toner is collected into the toner storage container corresponding to the image bearing member located at a most upstream position and a rest of the adhering toner is collected into the toner storage container of the developing unit developing the black toner.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that accurately obtains the dynamic characteristic of the apparatus when a foreign substance is adhered to a driving roller for driving an endless belt, such as a facing roller. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus uses an optical sensor to detect information of a foreign substance on the facing roller. When it is determined that there is no foreign substance information, the image forming apparatus executes profile detection of an intermediate transfer belt using the nominal circumference of the facing roller. When the optical sensor detects foreign substance information, the image forming apparatus measures the circumference of the facing roller, and performs profile detection of the intermediate transfer belt using the measured circumference of the facing roller.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that accurately obtains the dynamic characteristic of the apparatus when a foreign substance is adhered to a driving roller for driving an endless belt, such as a facing roller. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus uses an optical sensor to detect information of a foreign substance on the facing roller. When it is determined that there is no foreign substance information, the image forming apparatus executes profile detection of an intermediate transfer belt using the nominal circumference of the facing roller. When the optical sensor detects foreign substance information, the image forming apparatus measures the circumference of the facing roller, and performs profile detection of the intermediate transfer belt using the measured circumference of the facing roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which predicts VL fluctuates of a photosensitive drum, taking a rotation speed of the photosensitive drum during image formation into consideration, and controls the image formation based on the prediction, for always obtaining an image of a stable density. The image forming apparatus performs appropriate image formation control by controlling image forming conditions based on a photosensitive member rotation time, a photosensitive member stop time, a temperature of the environment, an absolute humidity of the environment, and the rotation speed of the photosensitive member.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that accurately obtains the dynamic characteristic of the apparatus when a foreign substance is adhered to a driving roller for driving an endless belt, such as a facing roller. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus uses an optical sensor to detect information of a foreign substance on the facing roller. When it is determined that there is no foreign substance information, the image forming apparatus executes profile detection of an intermediate transfer belt using the nominal circumference of the facing roller. When the optical sensor detects foreign substance information, the image forming apparatus measures the circumference of the facing roller, and performs profile detection of the intermediate transfer belt using the measured circumference of the facing roller.

Abstract: The present invention ensures stable cleaning performance with respect to remaining toner on an intermediate transfer belt without increasing the size and cost of an image forming apparatus. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which residual toner charged by a toner charging member is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to a photosensitive drum, the toner charging member is placed with respect to the intermediate transfer belt in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt such that a first distance of the intermediate transfer belt from a position where a secondary transfer member contacts the intermediate transfer belt to a position where the toner charging member contacts the intermediate transfer belt is longer than a second distance from the position where the toner charging member contacts the intermediate transfer belt to a position where an image bearing member placed most upstream contacts the intermediate transfer belt.