Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes: a cylindrical rotatable member including a base layer and an electroconductive layer; a core inserted into the rotatable member; and a coil wound helically around the core inside the rotatable member, wherein an AC magnetic field is formed by passing an AC current through the coil to generate heat in the electroconductive layer through electromagnetic induction heating. The base layer has a volume resistivity higher than a volume resistivity of the base layer. The electroconductive layer generates heat through a full circumference thereof by a current flowing in a circumferential direction of the rotatable member independently of rotation of the rotatable member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes: a cylindrical rotatable member including a base layer and an electroconductive layer; a core inserted into the rotatable member; and a coil wound helically around the core inside the rotatable member, wherein an AC magnetic field is formed by passing an AC current through the coil to generate heat in the electroconductive layer through electromagnetic induction heating. The base layer has a volume resistivity higher than a volume resistivity of the base layer. The electroconductive layer generates heat through a full circumference thereof by a current flowing in a circumferential direction of the rotatable member independently of rotation of the rotatable member.

Abstract: Using two or more developer replenishing units, each of which has a first storage for storing identification information related to developer and a second storage for storing history information related to the developer, if the identification information read out from each developing replenishing unit accords with unique information stored in an image forming main body, the history information is read out from the developing replenishing unit and analyzed to judge whether the utilization amount of the developing replenishing unit is at the end of its life. If the developing replenishing unit is not at the end of its life, the discharge amount of the developer replenished from the developer replenishing unit is controlled according to the history information and image output results formed by means of the image forming main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the image bearing member, the image bearing member and the developing means being detachably mountable to the apparatus as a process unit; a developer supply unit for supplying a developer to the developing means, the developer supply unit being detachably mountable to the apparatus; and a first memory mounted on the process unit. The first memory stores information relating to the developer supply unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the image bearing member, the image bearing member and the developing means being detachably mountable to the apparatus as a process unit; a developer supply unit for supplying a developer to the developing means, the developer supply unit being detachably mountable to the apparatus; and a first memory mounted on the process unit. The first memory stores information relating to the developer supply unit.

Abstract: Using two or more developer replenishing units, each of which has a first storage for storing identification information related to developer and a second storage for storing history information related to the developer, if the identification information read out from each developing replenishing unit accords with unique information stored in an image forming main body, the history information is read out from the developing replenishing unit and analyzed to judge whether the utilization amount of the developing replenishing unit is at the end of its life. If the developing replenishing unit is not at the end of its life, the discharge amount of the developer replenished from the developer replenishing unit is controlled according to the history information and image output results formed by means of the image forming main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member, and a density detecting device for detecting the density of an image for density detection formed on the image bearing member. Image forming conditions are controlled on the basis of an output from the density detecting device. The density detecting device has a regular reflection type density detecting device for detecting the density by regular reflection light from a portion to be detected, and a diffuse reflection type density detecting device for detecting the density by diffuse reflection light from the portion to be detected. The output value from the diffuse reflection type density detecting device is corrected on the basis of the output value from the regular reflection type density detecting device which has detected a reference image, and the output value from the diffuse reflection type density detecting device which has detected the reference image.

Abstract: Using two or more developer replenishing units, each of which has a first storage for storing identification information related to developer and a second storage for storing history information related to the developer, if the identification information read out from each developing replenishing unit accords with unique information stored in an image forming main body, the history information is read out from the developing replenishing unit and analyzed to judge whether the utilization amount of the developing replenishing unit is at the end of its life. If the developing replenishing unit is not at the end of its life, the discharge amount of the developer replenished from the developer replenishing unit is controlled according to the history information and image output results formed by means of the image forming main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member, said image bearing member and said developing means being detachably mountable to said apparatus as a process unit; a developer supply unit for supplying a developer to said developing means, said developer supply unit being detachably mountable to said apparatus; first memory mounted on said process unit, wherein said first memory stores information relating to said developer supply unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member, and a density detecting device for detecting the density of an image for density detection formed on the image bearing member. Image forming conditions are controlled on the basis of an output from the density detecting device. The density detecting device has a regular reflection type density detecting device for detecting the density by regular reflection light from a portion to be detected, and a diffuse reflection type density detecting device for detecting the density by diffuse reflection light from the portion to be detected. The output value from the diffuse reflection type density detecting device is corrected on the basis of the output value from the regular reflection type density detecting device which has detected a reference image, and the output value from the diffuse reflection type density detecting device which has detected the reference image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member by a developer. A developer supplying unit is detachably attachable to a main body of the image forming apparatus and supplies the developer to the developing device. A density detecting device detects a density of the developer in the developing device. A developer remaining amount detecting device detects information regarding an amount of the developer in the developing supplying unit. A state of the developer supplying unit is judged on the basis of a result of the detection by the density detecting device and a result of the detection by the second detecting device.

Abstract: Using two or more developer replenishing units, each of which has a first storage for storing identification information related to developer and a second storage for storing history information related to the developer, if the identification information read out from each developing replenishing unit accords with unique information stored in an image forming main body, the history information is read out from the developing replenishing unit and analyzed to judge whether the utilization amount of the developing replenishing unit is at the end of its life. If the developing replenishing unit is not at the end of its life, the discharge amount of the developer replenished from the developer replenishing unit is controlled according to the history information and image output results formed by means of the image forming main body.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus or a laser beam printer is disclosed. The fixing apparatus has a heater, a rotatable member having the heater therein, and a pressing member forming a nip by coming into contact with the rotatable member. The rotatable member is provided with a core and an elastic layer formed on the core, and the elastic layer has a JIS-A Standard rubber hardness not more than 5.degree..

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which includes a movable image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a movable intermediate transfer member to which the toner image on the image bearing member is electrostatically transferred at a first transfer position, and a charger for charging residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after the toner image on the intermediate transfer member has been electrostatically transferred onto a transfer material at a second transfer position with polarity opposite to charging polarity of the normal toner on the image bearing member. An electric field is formed so that the residual toner charged by the charger from the intermediate transfer member onto the image bearing member and a transfer of a next toner image from the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member are simultaneously performed at the first transfer position.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer material by using an intermediate transfer member, having a first transfer bias power supply for applying transfer bias to a first transfer unit to generate first transfer bias between a photosensitive member and an intermediate transfer member, when toner images are successively firstly-transferred onto the intermediate transfer member, and a second transfer bias power supply for providing constant current to generate second transfer bias between the intermediate transfer member and the secondary transfer electrode, and wherein the second transfer bias power supply applies, in an overlap fashion, transfer bias of current having a current value greater than a current value of the transfer bias to be applied to an upstream image area of the transfer material and having the same polarity as that of the latter transfer bias to at least a non-image area of the transfer material at an end portion thereof in a transfer mate

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member; toner image forming unit for forming a toner image with non-magnetic toner on an image bearing member; intermediate transfer member contactable to the image bearing member and movable along an endless path; primary transfer unit for effecting primary image transfer of the toner image formed on the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member at a first transfer position; secondary transfer unit for effecting a secondary image transfer of the toner image from the intermediate transfer member on the transfer material at a second transfer position; and a residual toner charger for charging the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member to a polarity opposite from a regular polarity thereof.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus a toner image is transferred onto a transfer material using an intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image-bearing member such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member, an intermediate transfer member for receiving a transferable image formed on the first image-bearing member, and contact transfer device for transferring the transferable image from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material. The first image-bearing member has a surface layer having a dielectric constant .epsilon..sub.d, the intermediate transfer member has a surface layer having a dielectric constant .epsilon..sub.ITD and the contact transfer device has a surface layer having a dielectric constant .epsilon..sub.tr satisfying a relationship of; .epsilon..sub.d .ltoreq..epsilon..sub.ITD .ltoreq..epsilon..sub.tr. The intermediate transfer member exhibits a volume resistivity of 10.sup.6 -10.sup.10 ohm.cm (at an applied voltage of 1 kV), and the contact transfer device exhibits a volume resistivity of 10.sup.8 -10.sup.15 ohm.cm (at an applied voltage of 1 kV).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which converts character or pattern information into bit map information (pixel information) and forms an image based thereon. The image forming apparatus includes a light-beam generator for generating a modulated light beam, a light-beam deflector for scanning an image carrier, a device for feeding a sheet to registration rollers and a driver for driving the image carrier. A time period is provided to operate the light-beam deflector and the feeding device before the driver starts to drive the image carrier to form an image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming device for forming an image on a recording material, the image forming device including an image bearing member, a charging member for charging the image bearing member and a voltage source for supplying a voltage to the charging member; and determining device for determining a substantial intersection between an actual voltage-current characteristic curve between the charging member and the image bearing member and a predetermined voltage-current curve predetermined for the charging member, and for determining a bias to be applied to the charging member during image forming operation of the basis of the intersection.